Following Slovenia in the first half of the year, France takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2008.

The French Presidency has drawn up its programme with the intention of responding to the chief concerns of citizens. In particular, it wishes to address four key priorities:

• Energy and the climate.
• Migration issues.
• Agriculture.
• Security and defence.

Looking beyond these four leading policy issues, it naturally aims to make progress in all the major areas of EU action – economic, financial, social and cultural – and on the international stage.

Those priorities has been focused in the following three pillars:

• Making Europe a model of sustainable social, ecological and economic development.
• Making Europe more attentive to the rights, security and aspirations of citizens.
• Reinforcing europe’s role on the international stage.

With regard to the Lisbon Treaty, the French Presidency proposes to implement the conclusions of the European Council of 19 and 20 June 2008: the European Council will return to this matter at its meeting on 15 October 2008 with a view to determining the way forward. In the interim, it is important to continue to obtain concrete findings in the various areas that are of interest to citizens.

French Presidency Logo

The logo of the French Presidency illustrates the strength of the bond uniting France and the European Union. It symbolises the Presidency's commitment to work for the general European interest. Simple and clear, it is aimed at all Europeans. It is both political and popular.
The graphic accompanying the logo brings together the languages and colours of the flags of the Member States of the European Union, uniting them in a dynamic movement.

Next events of the Presidency

The first ministerial meeting of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Euromed Trade conference brings together 27 EU ministers and 13 Mediterranean partners in Marseille.