In the agenda of the European summit of 18th and 19th October in Lisbon, the Portuguese government added another two priority subjects, in addition to the Reform Treaty: "The financial market and the political response" to be provided "given the perturbations occurring on the sub-prime mortgage market"; "climate change in the run-up to the Ministerial Meeting due to take place in Bali next December". About all these subjects, the Prime Minister José Socrates expects "a fruitful debate" and insists on the need to "reach agreement on the future Treaty". Since that is not an official summit, the presidency explains that there will be no final written document (technically called "Conclusions of the Chairmanship") but only a verbal statement that will be announced to the mass media at the end of the summit. The only "official" event of the summit will be the session of the IGC in the afternoon of 18th October, followed by the "family photo" and the business dinner, one for the heads of state and government and one for the Ministers of Foreign Affairs. They will have to tackle some specific subjects, including the situation in the Middle East, especially in Lebanon.
