The EU Presidency's point of departure is that the Treaty of Lisbon shall enter into force as quickly as possible. All Member States, apart from the Czech Republic, have concluded their ratification processes.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) is meeting on 26–27 October in Luxembourg. The ministers will make preparations for the upcoming EU Summit taking plance on 29–30 October and reach a decision on the EU's Baltic Sea Strategy. Points on the foreign policy agenda include an action plan for stronger EU actions in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the situation in Sri Lanka after the end of the war and the transition to a stronger EU presence in Bosnia. Minister for EU Affairs Cecilia Malmström and Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt will chair the Council meetings.

The economic crisis must not be allowed to impede the work on the UN’s millennium development goals. For the EU and the western world, it is now a question of intensifying support to those areas of the world where development is falling behind. This is what Helen Clark, head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), says in a video interview from European Development Days in Stockholm.

At today's Council meeting in Luxembourg, the General Affairs Council, under the chairmanship of Cecilia Malmström, adopted the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Thus one of the Swedish Presidency's top priorities is brought to a successful conclusion. The ministers also prepared for the summit between the EU heads of state and government on 29–30 October.

"With a plan for consolidated and strengthened action, the European Union stands ready to take on the complex challenges in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Concerted support from the international community is needed now more than ever."

Climate financing. This new fad phrase in the world of politics is one of the trickiest issues for the EU’s heads of state and government to address at the European Council meeting in Brussels. Lars-Erik Liljelund, climate adviser to Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, explains what is at stake and why it is so important that the EU reaches an agreement.

The summit between the EU heads of state and government has opened. First on the heavy agenda is the question of how to finance the work to combat climate change. The remaining question marks surrounding the EU’s new Treaty also need to be resolved. On his way into the meeting José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, here comments on the day’s complex negotiations.

After lengthy and difficult negotiations, the EU Member States have reached agreement. The difficult question of 'climate financing' has been resolved and the EU’s climate package is thus complete. At the summit’s closing press conference, a delighted Fredrik Reinfeldt noted that the EU has a strong mandate for negotiation ahead of the climate change conference in Copenhagen in December.