Today's Date:

Daily Press Briefing

Statements made by
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson

(Paris, March 11, 2008)

[Please note that only the original French text issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.]

GENERAL AFFAIRS/EXTERNAL RELATIONS COUNCIL (MARCH 10-11)

Ministers at the general affairs/external relations council in Brussels on March 10 made final preparations for the European Council on March 13 and 14 at which three issues of interest to citizens will be discussed: the Lisbon strategy and economic and social growth, energy and climate protection, and the stability of financial markets. The council also adopted conclusions, the first of substance in two years, on the state of negotiations at the WTO. They contain a clear message on the need to improve the texts under discussion in Geneva.

Ministers lastly examined the situation in the Middle East after the events in Gaza and the March 6 attack in Jerusalem, and the situation in the Western Balkans, Iran, Georgia and Zimbabwe./.

Embassy of France, March 11, 2008