"The reforms started as part of the Lisbon Strategy for growth and employment are beginning to bear fruits. We should make the most of this positive development, to pursue the modernisation of Europe and its economy, and get it ready to face the challenges that await it". Angela Merkel, in presenting the items on the agenda of the summit due tomorrow and the day after tomorrow in Brussels, lingers on the economic issues relating to the Agenda that was established in the Portuguese capital in 2000, to turn "the EU into the most developed economy in the world, based on knowledge, research, quality employment". The 27 member states, after acknowledging their delays in this respect, are now going to put forward some specific measures, country by country, "to boost employment and strengthen social cohesion". The summit will open tomorrow afternoon with a speech by the new president of the EU Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering. The first session of discussion will be focussed on the energy policy: the president of the EU Commission, José Manuel Barroso, will submit the paper drawn up by the Executive in January about this subject. In the evening, they will discuss the transatlantic relations, "in the run-up explains the German Chancellor to the EU-USA summit of April 30th". Finally the Friday morning session will be devoted to "reviewing and adopting the conclusions of the European Council".
