Preparation for the European Council meeting, 19-20 March 2009

The Council examined an annotated draft agenda prepared by the presidency for the spring meeting of the European Council, to be held in Brussels on 19 and 20 March 2009. The European Council is due to focus on the following issues:

• the economic and financial situation;
• energy and climate change;
• external relations, in particular the Eastern Partnership;
• the Treaty of Lisbon.

As concerns the economic and financial situation, it will focus on progress achieved in ensuring greater stability and better supervision and transparency in financial markets, implementation of the European economic recovery plan approved in December, progress on the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs, the functioning of the EU's internal market and preparations for the G20 summit in London on 2 April.

On energy and climate change, it is due to discuss means of ensuring the EU's energy security in the medium and longer term, as well as preparations for the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen in December.

The annotated draft agenda will serve as the basis for draft European Council conclusions to be prepared by the presidency and submitted to the Permanent Representatives Committee. The draft conclusions will draw on the work of the Council configurations involved, as well as the outcome of an informal meeting of heads of state and government in Brussels on 1 March.