Spain takes over EU presidency

By Simon Taylor - 31.12.2009 / 12:53 CET

Six-month term is the first under Lisbon treaty rules.

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Fact file

Priorities of the Spanish presidency:

Agree new anti-discrimination directive;
Tackle violence against women across the EU, including setting up a monitoring centre;
Make progress on the Stockholm Programme of measures to fight terrorism and organised crime, strengthen legal rights and protections, tackle illegal immigration and encourage legal migration and integration;
Finalise agreement on new financial market regulation, including setting up of new supervisory committees;
Agree co-ordinated strategy to address effects of economic crisis and reduce public deficits.

Main summit dates:

EU-Morocco 7-8 March

EU-Canada 10 May

EU-Mexico 15-16 May

EU-Latin American and Caribbean countries 18-19 May

EU-US 25 May

EU-Egypt 5 June

EU-Mediterranean 7 June