European Council

It is traditional for the spring sessions of the European Council to focus on economy issues. This time, the leaders will pay particular attention to the launch of the second cycle of the renewed Lisbon Strategy (2008-2010), climate change and energy, and the stability of financial markets.

Heads of State and Government will approve the integrated guidelines for growth and jobs and, at the same time, issue some important guidelines on the next cycle of the Lisbon Strategy.

They will formulate the "fifth freedom" the free movement of knowledge, and stress the importance of creativity and small and medium-sized enterprises in the further development of the European economy. They will also devote special attention to the concept of flexicurity within the social dimension of the Lisbon Strategy. [extract]