When Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt meets the European Parliament in Strasbourg today to report on what the Swedish Presidency has achieved, the climate is on the agenda more than ever. With the climate negotiations in Copenhagen entering their final phase, Mr Reinfeldt said in his speech that the world needs binding commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Time is starting to run out for the climate negotiations. The Danish Presidency, led by Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, is now making major efforts to get negotiations started on the key issues.
The heads of state and government who met late yesterday evening to resolve some problems in the climate negotiations continued their meeting on Friday morning. US President Barack Obama joined the meeting at around 10.00 and intensive discussions are underway.
Photo: Gunnar Seijbold/Regeringskansliet
Just before 01.00 on Saturday morning, a number of heads of state and government agreed on a climate agreement at the UN conference in Copenhagen. The agreement includes agreement on the two degree target and money for climate financing. The agreement came after high-level negotiations in a smaller circle of around 30 countries – including China, India and the USA, as well as EU Member States.
Statement by the President of the European Council, Prime Minister Reinfeldt:
“The Republic of Serbia has taken a historic step in deciding to apply for membership of the European Union. I Look forward to receiving President Boris Tadić in Stockholm on Tuesday 22 December when he officially hands over the application”.
The Presidency is drawing to a close. Minister for Health and Social Affairs Göran Hägglund and Minister for Elderly Care and Public Health Maria Larsson can look back on six busy months. eHealth, antimicrobial resistance, patient mobility and alcohol and health are some of the issues addressed by the ministers. “Chairing the EU meetings has been an incredible privilege”, says Göran Hägglund. “And I think that we have managed to turn things around by putting focus on the patient rather than having the system as a starting point with patients coming second.
