Leaders from the 27-member European Union (EU) are gathering here later Thursday to focus on a reform treaty which was recently rejected by the Irish people in a referendum.
The leaders will listen to Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen's explanation for rejection of the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland, the only EU nation to put the treaty to a referendum.
They will "together examine the ways on how to move forward" with the treaty, a version of the demised constitution treaty rejected in 2005 by France and the Netherlands.
"It is important for us to show that the EU will move forward and stay on the path of progress," said rotating EU president Janez Jansa, Slovenia's prime minister.
The summit will also discuss the accession of Slovakia to the euro-zone with the presence of President of the European Central Bank Jean-Claude Trichet.
The first working session of the European Council will start at18:15 local time with the topic of food and oil prices.
Facing the highest nominal prices of all major food commodities in nearly 50 years, "we will discuss the policy implications of soaring food and oil prices and decide on a number of short, medium and long term measures," Jansa said in his invitation letter.
On Friday, the leaders will look at justice and home affairs, economic, social and environmental issues and reaffirm support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans and underline the need for further action.
This will be the last EU summit under the presidency of Slovenia and France will take the rotating presidency next month.
Source: Xinhua
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