Slovenia puts climate change, energy at top of its EU presidency

"Slovenia will put climate change, energy and economic reforms at the top of the European Union's agenda when it takes over the union's presidency in January, the country's prime minister said Tuesday.

In addition, after meeting with European Commission President Manuel Barroso, Prime Minister Janez Jansa said he would push EU governments to quickly ratify the reform treaty European leaders will sign next month. The treaty includes changes in decision-making rules designed to make the union function more effectively.

'We will follow closely the ratification process of the reform treaty and encourage our colleagues to speed up as much as possible the ratification process,' Jansa said at a press conference with Barroso. The new treaty, if approved by all 27 member nations, would take effect in 2009."

Source: International Herald Tribune