Taoiseach travelling to Brussels for European Council
The Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen, T.D., will travel today, Thursday, to Brussels to participate in a meeting of the European Council. Minister of State for European Affairs, Dick Roche, will accompany him.
This will be the first European Council to take place since the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force on 1 December 2009.
The meeting will discuss the current economic, financial and employment situation, including the prospects for economic recovery and new arrangements for financial supervision in the European Union.
The Heads of State and Government will also take stock of the progress being made on addressing climate change and the prospects for a satisfactory outcome to the Copenhagen climate change summit.
The agenda also includes discussion of a new five-year work-plan in the area of Justice and Home Affairs ("the Stockholm Programme"), current foreign policy issues, and institutional issues in the light of the Treaty having entered into force.
This European Council will be chaired by Swedish Prime Minister Frederik Reinfeldt. The new President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy will also attend the meeting, ahead of assuming his full range of responsibilities in January.
Ends
10th December 2009