Slovenia hands over EU presidency to France

Slovenia hands over EU presidency to France
WATCH VIDEO
Source: CCTV.com | 07-01-2008 12:39
Slovenia Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel has handed over the European Union Presidency to French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.
The ceremony took place in Paris on Monday. Kouchner takes over the post amid soaring oil prices, lagging overseas sales and critical EU policy reform.

France's most recognizable monument, the Eiffel Tower, has been lit up to mark the start of France's six-month EU presidency.

Kouchner says he hopes to follow the Slovenian example on energy and climate change policy. He also says his primary goal is to bring the EU closer to the European people.

Under Slovenian leadership, EU policy reform faced a major set-back when the referendum on the Lisbon treaty was rejected by Irish voters in June. The Lisbon treaty aims to streamline decision-making in the 27-nation bloc.

European Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner has stressed the need to unite all 27 EU member countries behind one policy. She says the commission will do its best to assist the new President in reaching that goal.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• EU
• France
• Slovenia

[EUsuperstate]

never let fucking Ireland have the preisdency !!lool

[EUamerican]

The Slovenian Presidency and the Troika was meddled with by the Americans who demanded Kosovo independence...

We almost lose Serbia because of it....but where's the outrage?!

[paralogistis]

thanks God frnace took presidency..SLovenia sucked as president of EU they did nothing

[philproductions2210]

The Lisbon treaty has LITTLE to do with just streamlining decision-making in the 27-nation bloc.

It primary aim is to force through changes to remove all reasonable democratic process and remove fundermental rights for the citizen, whilst strengthening the stranglehold of unelected corrupt officials to do whatever they please. Evidence shows this is usually detrimental to everyone except the elite who are immune to and above the law.