Leaders from across Europe set aside their concerns about the EU’s growing pains today to seal the entry of 10 nations into the European Union and mark the end of the continent’s Cold War divide.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has revealed that forging closer ties between the United States and the European Union will be one of his priorities when Ireland takes over the EU presidency on January 1.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is due to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy in Budapest today.

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy said there will be a referendum on joining the EU on April 12.