EU-US leaders to meet on margins of November NATO summit

Aug 17, 2010, 20:56 GMT

   Brussels - European Union and United States leaders are set to meet in the Portuguese capital Lisbon on November 20, on the margins of a previously planned NATO summit, EU and US officials confirmed Tuesday.

   An EU-US summit had been scheduled to take place in Madrid in May, but the event was cancelled amid reports that US President Barack Obama did not consider it necessary to again meet EU leaders only six months after a prior gathering in Prague.

   An EU statement said Obama will be welcomed in Lisbon by European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

   White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the United States had 'no stronger partner than Europe in advancing security and prosperity around the world.' Obama looked forward to discussing the economic recovery, terrorism, nuclear proliferation and human rights, the White House said.

   The EU-US talks will likely take place just after a NATO summit scheduled for November 19-20.

   'Following an invitation by the European leaders, both sides agreed on a mutually convenient date and venue for the EU-US summit and shall engage now in the preparations of the summit,' Van Rompuy and Barroso said.