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UK-Portugal talks to focus on EU Brown reminds EU of 'red lines'
(about 8 hours later)
Prime Minister Jose Socrates of Portugal is to hold talks with UK counterpart Gordon Brown in London. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has told Portugal that as EU president it must respect all the UK's "red lines" as the new EU treaty is finalised.
It will be their first meeting since Mr Brown took over from Tony Blair. On the agenda are issues relating to Portugal's presidency of the EU. The UK wants to retain control over human and social rights, foreign policy and tax and benefits.
Mr Socrates' priority is turning the agreement on replacing the defunct EU constitution into a Treaty of Lisbon. Mr Brown was speaking to reporters after talks with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates in London.
He would like this by October to enable him to focus on other business, and will be seeking backing from Mr Brown. He told Mr Socrates that the UK wanted its negotiating objectives "reflected in all the detail of the agreements".
Mr Socrates has dismissed the idea of member states, namely Poland, seeking fresh concessions during talks on wording, which are due to start on 23 July. Portugal aims to turn the defunct EU constitution into a Treaty of Lisbon.
Both men face calls from their respective oppositions for a referendum on the planned treaty. Mr Socrates would like to do that by October, to enable him to focus on other business.
Mugabe conundrum Further negotiations
He has dismissed the idea of member states, namely Poland, seeking fresh concessions during talks on wording, which are due to start on 23 July.
PORTUGUESE PRIORITIES Reform of the EU treaties - signing by DecemberStart of regular EU-Brazil summitFirst EU-Africa summit for seven yearsGetting Turkey's membership talks "back on track"Ensuring European consensus on KosovoCo-ordination of employment policies Euroblog: Treaty of Lisbon The new treaty framework agreed in Brussels preserves much of the planned EU constitution, rejected by Dutch and French voters in 2005.
But the constitution's envisaged post of "foreign minister" was dropped in favour of a "high representative" for foreign policy and a reform of the EU's voting system was delayed until at least 2014, to placate Poland.
Both Mr Socrates and Mr Brown face calls from their respective oppositions for a referendum on the planned treaty.
The line taken by Mr Socrates and Portugal's president - although he is from an opposition party - is that there can be no talk of a referendum until the text emerges.The line taken by Mr Socrates and Portugal's president - although he is from an opposition party - is that there can be no talk of a referendum until the text emerges.
Mr Socrates' other priorities include an EU-Africa summit to be held in Lisbon in December. Mr Socrates said fighting terrorism would be a priority during Portugal's EU presidency.
His other priorities include an EU-Africa summit to be held in Lisbon in December.
Portugal has close ties with its former colonies but is also cultivating its near neighbours in North Africa and countries further south through the African Union, whose summit Mr Socrates attended last week.Portugal has close ties with its former colonies but is also cultivating its near neighbours in North Africa and countries further south through the African Union, whose summit Mr Socrates attended last week.
But Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is a problem.
The UK will not accept his taking part, but if he is not invited some African leaders may stay away.
Portuguese officials hope to find a diplomatic formula to resolve this.