European Heads of State and Government, meeting at the European Council taking place in Brussels between June 18th and 19th 2009, reached an agreement intended to try to ensure Irish ratification of the Lisbon Treaty which would finally unlock the process. Moreover, it was agreed unanimously to nominate Durão Barroso as the candidate for European Commission Presidency for the period 2009-2014.

Convinced that the Lisbon Treaty will provide a better framework for action by the Union in a large number of fields, Heads of State or Government agreed on legal guarantees designed to respond to concerns raised by the Irish people, thus paving the way for them to be consulted again on that Treaty.

Having carefully noted the concerns of the Irish people as set out by the Taoiseach, the European Council, at its meeting of 11-12 December 2008, agreed that, provided the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force, a decision would be taken, in accordance with the necessary legal procedures, to the effect that the Commission shall continue to include one national of each Member State.

The European Council also agreed that other concerns of the Irish people, as presented by the Taoiseach, relating to taxation policy, the right to life, education and the family, and Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality, would be addressed to the mutual satisfaction of Ireland and the other Member States, by way of the necessary legal guarantees. It was also agreed that the high importance attached to a number of social issues, including workers' rights, would be confirmed.

Heads also took first steps in the process of designating the President of the next Commission. The Heads of State or Government agreed unanimously on the name of Mr. José Manuel Durão Barroso as the person they intend to nominate as President of the European Commission for the period 2009-2014.

The European Union, like the rest of the world, still faces the effects of the deepest and most widespread recession of the post-war era. It is imperative for the EU to continue to develop and implement the measures required to respond to the crisis. This should be done by building on the important achievements of the past months in line with the European Economic Recovery Plan agreed last December, which will amount to an overall budgetary support of around 5% of GDP in 2009/2010. As evidenced by the Council's report assessing national recovery measures, the significant measures taken by governments and central banks are contributing to limiting the negative effects of the downturn and helping to safeguard jobs. They also pave the way towards a sustainable economic recovery.

The European Council welcomes the Commission's intention to bring forward, by early autumn 2009 at the latest, the legislative proposals to put in place the new framework for EU supervision, fully respecting the balance of competences and financial responsibility and taking full account of the Council conclusions of 9 June 2009. The European Union will continue to play a leading role at the global level, in particular within the G20. It calls on its international partners to implement fully the commitments given in Washington and London, in particular as regards providing additional resources to international financial institutions and accelerating the reform of the financial and regulatory framework. 

The EU's role in the world remains of particular interest to European leaders. The European leaders underlined the strategic importance of transatlantic relations and welcomed the launch of the Eastern Partnership. They also stressed that the Middle East Peace Process remained a top priority for the EU in 2009. The European Council reconfirmed the great importance of stability and security in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the wider region. The European Council adopted the declarations on Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.