Budapest  - Czech President Vaclav Klaus discussed issues relating to his country's upcoming presidency of the European Union with his Hungarian counterpart Laszlo Solyom during a one-day visit to Budapest Tuesday.

The Czech Republic will lead the 27-nation bloc from the beginning of 2009, and Solyom said that Hungary welcomed the priorities the Czechs had set for their six-month stint in charge.

Klaus said that the Czech Republic would look closely at energy policy during its presidency and added that the widening of the EU should not end once the Lisbon Treaty comes into force.

The Lisbon Treaty, which is a replacement for the failed European Constitution, is aimed at improving the operation of the EU and is due to come into force on January 1, 2009 once all nations have ratified it. (dpa)