Sweden, the EU’s current presiding nation, has been focusing attention on the economy. Spain will take its turn as flywheel of operations among EU partners next, for the first half of 2010. The two countries’ leaders have been meeting in Stockholm.

Jose Luis Rodrigues Zapatero said: “We want, first of all, to be the escape motor for the economic crisis, and to create a new, more sustainable economic model. To do this, the Lisbon Strategy will need to be renewed, and financial reform agreements have to be put in place.” Zapatero praised his Swedish counterpart Fredrik Reinfeld’s efforts to organise a European summit to help prepare for the G20 meeting in Pittsburg at the end of next month. The idea is to present a strong common EU position for strategies to pull out of the recession.More about: EU Presidency, European Union, Spain

Copyright © 2012 euronews