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EU reaches agreement on tricky issues

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-31 00:44

BRUSSELS: Leaders of the European Union (EU) ended their two-day meeting here Friday with a consensus on such tricky issues as climate change financing and the Lisbon Treaty.

At a press conference after the summit on Friday, President of the European Council Fredrik Reinfeldt said EU leaders had endorsed a "fast start financing" plan to help developing countries to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.

According to the plan, EU member states will contribute 5-7 billion dollars from 2010-12 to help developing countries to fight climate change and member states would contribute to this amount on "a voluntary basis".

"I'm very happy to say that we reached an agreement and the EU now has a strong position on the climate change negotiations," Reinfeldt said, adding that with this decision, the EU could continue to take the lead in fighting against climate change.

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Earlier on Thursday, the EU leaders also removed the "last political hurdle" to the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, giving the Czech Republic an opt-out in relation to the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The EU leaders agreed to grant the Czechs the exemption in a manner that was acceptable to neighbouring countries, Reinfeldt told reporters at a press conference held on Thursday.

The concession was demanded by Czech President Vaclav Klaus as the price to endorse the treaty, which will create the post of permanent EU president.

"We have removed the last political hurdle," European Commission President Jose Barroso said.

The treaty, aimed at streamlining the bloc's institutions and increasing its global influence, is expected to go into force at the end of this year or the beginning of next year.

At the summit, EU leaders also adopted the Baltic Sea Strategy, which is intended to increase competitiveness in the region and form an integrated framework to address common challenges, such as the urgent environment challenges related to the Baltic Sea.