The ministers responsible for European affairs met in Brest on the sidelines of the "Brest 2008" maritime festival on 12 and 13 July to have an informal debate on the three topics proposed by Jean-Pierre Jouyet in the context of the French Presidency of the European Union.

The debates reviewed the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty and its consequences, along with communication issues. Analysis of the results of the Irish referendum is ongoing. With regard to communication, it is important that all the Community institutions (Council, Commission, European Parliament) are involved in order to make the European Union and its advances better known to and more tangible to the citizens. Regular exchanges with the national parliaments are also required.

In the presence of Michel Platini, UEFA president, the ministers recalled that sport is not a good like others and insisted on the promotion of physical and sporting activities as public health factors. They lent their support to the Communication from the Commission on the rule on 'home-grown' players. These considerations will be discussed further in the meeting of the sports ministers of the European Union on 7 August in Beijing and the informal meeting at the end of November.

The ministers also debated the integrated maritime policy for the European Union following the 2007 adoption of the Commission's Blue Book "An Integrated Maritime Policy for teh European Union". The ministers acknowledged the necessity to reinforce maritime governance, notably with regard to coordinating the European agencies, a regional approach by maritime basins and the development of the role of the group of high-level national focal points. They also evoked the insular dimension of the maritime policy. The ministers also showed themselves in favour of the perspective of a European maritime surveillance network and new initiatives to combat piracy at sea. Lastly, the ministers approved the other subjects on the agenda of the French Presidency which will be dealt with by the competent configurations of the Council (environment, research, transport and maritime security).