EU leaders to decide on Cyprus’ and Malta’s accession to euro area

European Union Heads of State and Government, who meet in Brussels Thursday and Friday, will decide on the accession of Cyprus and Malta to the euro area. Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos represents the country at the European Council.

In her invitation to the EU leaders to attend the European Council, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country holds the EU rotating presidency, said the central issue will be reform of the Treaties.

“Over the past few months, under the German Council Presidency, we have together made significant progress for Europe. Only together will we succeed in resolving the issues before us at this European Council meeting,” she added.

She noted that “In the Berlin Declaration of 25 March 2007, we reaffirmed together that we wished to place the European Union on a new treaty basis before the European Parliament elections in 2009. The important challenges that lie ahead demand capacity to act and legitimacy on the part of the European Union.”

Merkel said that “after a two year pause for reflection, the European public now expects us to put the necessary reforms of the Union in hand. Following our consultations over the past few months the time has now come to set out the roadmap for the impending reform of the Treaties.”

“In addition we need to take practical measures that will have an immediate and positive influence on the everyday lives of our citizens. In this regard our conclusions will give important impetus in various areas,” Merkel concluded.