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  EU PRESIDENCY

  Czech PM refutes 'eurosceptic' label

  Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, who took over the EU presidency on January 1, denied Prague's reputation for euroscepticism in a policy speech before the EU Parliament, outlining his country's plans for its six-month mandate.

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  ART

  Czech presidency pokes fun at EU members

  A new art exhibition organised by the Czech presidency of the EU depicting the national stereotypes of the 27 EU members has so far provoked mostly laughter among spectators in Brussels. But some may fail to see the joke.

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  EU

  EU Parliament approves climate package

  Five days after European members reached a deal on the climate change package, eurodeputies approved the plan aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020.
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  EU PARLIAMENT

  'Europe changed me,' Sarkozy tells MEPs

  "I tried to change Europe but Europe changed me," French President Nicolas Sarkozy told MEPs in his last address to the European Parliament as the EU's six-month rotating president.
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  THE FRANCE 24 INTERVIEW

  Mirek Topolanek on the challenges of the EU presidency

  Czech PM Mirek Topolanek, whose country has yet to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, takes on the presidency of the EU Council on January 1. He comments on the achievements of the French leadership and the challenges of the next six months.
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  TOP STORY

  EU summit: what kind of deals?

  The final summit of France's European Union presidency covered a range of issues, focusing primarily on the environment, the financial crisis and the Lisbon Treaty. Can President Nicolas Sarkozy gain consensus in the final days of the French mandate?
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  FINANCIAL CRISIS - EU

  Europe unified on stimulus plan, says Sarkozy

  French President Nicolas Sarkozy denied there were disagreements with other European countries over how the response to the financial crisis should be handled after a European mini-summit.
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  Immigration

  EU seeks to change the procedure for asylum seekers

  The European Union is developing new asylum legislation. The proposals, which need to be agreed to by EU governments and lawmakers to become law, would also aim to make it easier for refugees of the same family to be together.
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  EU - FINANCIAL CRISIS

  Under fire, Brussels softens line on bank bailouts

  Criticised by several member states, the European Commission proposed softer rules for bank bailouts to EU finance ministers. France and Germany are still waiting for Brussels’ green light to implement national plans to help their banks.
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  POLICING

  European police forces seek common ground

  In a little town in France, 300 policemen from 17 European police forces gathered to train together and confront working methods. The goal: coming as close as possible to a common force able to intervene in cross-border crises.
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  FINANCIAL CRISIS

  French, German leaders push for united European response

  French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met in Paris to push for a rapid and co-ordinated European economic stimulus plan, but rejected VAT cuts to spur spending.
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  LISBON TREATY

  Czech MPs postpone EU treaty debate

  Czech lawmakers have put off a debate on whether to ratify the EU Lisbon Treaty by two months just weeks before the country takes on the EU presidency. The Czech Republic is the last to decide on the controversial reform charter.

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  SWEDEN - EU

  Parliament ratifies Lisbon reform treaty

  Sweden became the 25th of the 27 EU members to ratify EU's Lisbon Reform Treaty. The plan - largely shaped by French President Nicolas Sarkozy - replaces the Euro Constitution which was rejected by French and Dutch voters in 2005.
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  EU

  Irish vote may reverse Lisbon treaty veto

  Encouraging new polls have prompted pro-EU advocates within the Irish government to consider holding a second referendum on the stalled Lisbon reform treaty. The country is seeking guarantees from Brussels that it will retain its EU commissioner.
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  EU - FRANCE

  The French presidency of the European Union

  France takes on the EU presidency July 1 with one main challenge for Nicolas Sarkozy: pursuit of the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. The Mediterranean Union, the CAP and immigration issues also stand high on France's agenda.