Cyprus president to participate in EU Summit

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias departs Wednesday for Brussels, in order to participate in the Informal Council of heads of state or government of the European Union that begins on Thursday.

According to the Spanish Presidency of the EU, the leaders of the Union will meet in Brussels to seek a commitment towards implementing a revitalised economic strategy to boost employment and growth in the EU.

President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy has called this extraordinary meeting to allow the twenty-seven member states to analyse their economic plans for the coming years.

During the meeting, the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, will explain the specific proposals the EU executive branch expects to approve in early March.

European leaders will also analyse possible tactics for future global negotiations to deal with climate change issues, based on the outcome of last December's Copenhagen Conference.

The third major issue to be discussed at the meeting is Haiti. The EU aims to implement after its immediate rescue operations a long-term reconstruction strategy.

Next Thursday's summit will be the first such meeting under Van Rompuy's presidency, in full application of the Lisbon Treaty.