Foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) opened their meeting on Monday to discuss the financial and economic crisis, the future of Lisbon Treaty, and the energy and climate change package in preparations for the upcoming EU summit later this week, reported Xinhua.
The ministers are expected to discuss further efforts to alleviate the financial and economic crisis, and review the Doha Round of trade negotiations ahead of a possible ministerial meeting in Geneva by the end of the year.
During the meeting, tough talks are expected on how to reach a comprehensive agreement on an ambitious energy and climate change package, which calls for a cut of 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and sets new targets for developing renewal energy and switching to more efficient energy use.
The EU leaders aim to adopt the package at their meeting on Thursday and Friday, but it still faces resistance from eastern Europe countries, which rely on heavily-polluting coal-fired plants for energy and are demanding concessions.
On Saturday in Poland, Sarkozy met with nine east European leaders to address their objections to the package, but failed to bridge the gap.
After a phone conversation on Sunday, Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed their shared commitment to clinch a deal on the package in Brussels later this week.
The EU foreign ministers also intend to adopt central texts that will help relaunch European security and defense, a priority for the EU's French Presidency. This initiative involves updating the European Security Strategy set in 2003 and preparing statements on the reinforcement of military capabilities and on international security.
They will adopt conclusions on the EU's enlargement strategy on the basis of the report presented by the the European Commission on Nov. 5.
Meanwhile, the ministers will hold in-depth discussions on the Middle East, and particularly the peace process, and discuss how to boost political dialogue and cooperation between the EU and Israel.
They will also discuss the situation in the Western Balkans and in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
On the sidelines of their meeting, the foreign ministers will hold talks separately with ministers from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.