TAOISEACH TO ATTEND EUROPEAN COUNCIL IN BRUSSELS
The Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D., accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D., and the Minister of State for European Affairs Mr. Dick Roche T.D., will attend the European Council in Brussels today.
The European Council will welcome the signature of the Reform Treaty on 13 December, thereby signalling that the Union will have a stable institutional framework for the foreseeable future. The Union will thus be able to better devote its attention to major contemporary policy challenges, such as climate change and globalisation. The Council will also adopt a declaration on globalisation.
Discussions at the European Council will focus on three areas: freedom, security and justice; economic, social and environmental issues; and external relations, including the issue of Kosovo.
The European Council will also agree to establish a reflection group which will help the Union in identifying and examining the challenges and opportunities it will face some 15 to 20 years from now.
ENDS
14 December 2007