"Coordinated" and "strong": these are the two qualities of the EU’s response to the financial crisis, according to the French Prime Minister, François Fillon. On ending the tripartite social summit in Brussels that comes before the summit of the 27 member states, the Prime Minister said he is satisfied about the meeting, which has been attended by the president of the EU Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and by the delegates of the European trade unions and businesses, because "it made it possible to compare the opinions of the trade unions about the consequences of the crisis on both businesses and workers". According to Fillon, "now it is more essential than ever to place the problem of employment at the centre of the Lisbon Strategy" and wishes the Social Agenda submitted by the EU Executive in July "may be enforced as soon as possible". Other issues addressed by the tripartite summit include the promotion of "flexicurity", the future of the globalisation adjustment fund, the economic consequences of the energy price rises. The EU summit starts late in the afternoon with a speech by the president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, followed by the first session. Then, dinner for the heads of state and government, and a separate dinner for the state ministers.
