The EU Agenda for 2008

It's February, already, and high time for an overview of what is going to happen in European Union politics this year.

My crystal ball is not all bad, but of course there will be unexpected developments. This is a summary of what we do know will happen:

• Lisbon Treaty Ratification: just last week the French National Assembly and Senate approved the measure, leaving only President Sarkozy to sign it. Hungary, Slovenia, Malta, and Romania had already preceded France in voting for the measure. Next up is the European Parliament, which will discuss the Treaty from February 18th. The big story will be the Irish referendum, provisionally slated for somewhere in May or June.
• The Lisbon Treaty, when ratified, will provide a new, permanent Council presidency which will be held by one person for 2 and a half years, renewable once. The deal on the first president will be made behind closed doors, probably somewhere between early summer and late autumn depending on who you ask, but there is growing resistance against that process. Witness recent comments by Margot Wallström, and the Stop Blair campaign.

• The European Commission will make a fundamental review of the way the EU budget currently functions. A consultation is now underway, the results of which will be published in late 2008 to early 2009.
• The Common Agricultural Policy, until recently the largest expense of the EU, will also get a minor overhaul with its 'health check', due to be published this spring. There is a dedicated blog. Update: See this February 7th article in the European Voice for an overview of current tensions.
  
• Developments on the CAP will - once again - be important with regard to the Doha round, which, though moribund, might get yet another shot at coming to a close.

• The European Parliament Elections, in June 2009, are gearing up. Some more tales from the initial preparations for the campaign trail, soon.

• Kosovo is on the verge of declaring independence, a move that might be countered by Serbia and Russia by taking control over the northern parts of the terittory, which is ethnically Serbian. The EU will have to prove its diplomatic worth by handling this crisis.

• The Slovenian presidency of the Council has a pretty tame programme, but things should become more entertaining when France takes the helm from July. The frantic Nicolas Sarkozy is already making bold statements about 'putting politics back into Europe' and... a mission to Mars! Nothing, it seems, is crazy enough for Mr. Sarkozy...
  

That is a first review of what I see coming up. Clive Matthews has also (already) done a preview. He focuses on doubtlessly important political developments in the US and Russia, and their likely impact on Europe.

Anything to add?