British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Monday that economic reform, climate change and security in Kosovo, Iran and Burma were the key challenges for the European Union (EU).

    "The reforms Europe must make to meet and master the global challenges we face - for competitiveness, employment, secure energy, climate change; and issues of security - in particular Kosovo, Iran and Burma - that we must confront together," Brown said in a statement at the House of Commons, lower house of the parliament, after attending the EU Council held in Brussels on Dec.14 where EU leaders discussed future priorities in light of the EU treaty's conclusion.

    "Europe is now moving to a new agenda - one that focuses on the changes needed to meet the challenges of the global era," said Brown.

    On the treaty, Brown said that institutional reform as addressed in the EU Treaty, signed last Thursday in Lisbon, Portugal, would not be revisited "in the foreseeable future."

    "All 27 member states agreed at the Council - and this was expressly set out in the conclusions - that this amending treaty provides the Union with a stable and lasting institutional framework and that it completes the process of institutional reform for the foreseeable future," said Brown, who signed the treaty in Lisbon, Portugal, last Thursday.

    On Kosovo, Brown said that EU leaders were agreed that the status quo was "unsustainable" and settlement around a "stable, democratic, multiethnic" Kosovo was necessary, and at the same time the EU remains committed to the full integration of Serbia into the EU.

    With insufficient progress made in negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, Brown confirmed that the EU will seek a new U.N. resolution with tougher sanctions against Teheran.

    "As I have made clear repeatedly, Iran remains in breach of its international obligations. In September foreign ministers from theE3 plus 3 agreed that unless there were positive outcomes from Javier Solana and the IAEA's discussions with Iran, we would seek tougher sanctions at the U.N. The latest E3 plus 3 assessment is that sufficient progress has not been made," said Brown.

    "The European Council conclusions call on Iran to provide full, clear and credible answers to the IAEA, and to resolve all questions concerning their nuclear activities. The European Council reiterated its support for a new U.N. resolution as soon as possible," said he.

    On Myanmar, Brown said that "restrictive measures" may also be amended and reinforced against Burma if basic political freedoms are not implemented.

    "If there is no change in the Burmese regime's approach to political negotiations and basic political freedoms, we stand ready to review, amend and - if necessary - further reinforce restrictive measures against the Burmese Government," said Brown, adding the Council also reaffirmed the important role of China, India and the Association of South-East Asian Nations in actively supporting the U.N. efforts to establish an inclusive political process leading to genuine national reconciliation.

    On climate change, Brown said that the EU would seek an "ambitious" post-2012 agreement following the successful conclusion of the Bali summit on Saturday, and the EU would "step up" funding to help developing nations establish low carbon economies.