Cowen to meet applicant ambassadors

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen is to meet the ambassadors of countries hoping to join the European Union for talks following the rejection of the Nice Treaty.

Ever since the rejection of the treaty the Government has been involved in a diplomatic offensive to try to assure the states involved that Ireland does not want to block their EU membership.

The offensive will peak at this weekend’s Gothenburg summit when the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is expected to meet the leaders of the applicant states.

Paving the way for those talks Brian Cowen will tomorrow meet the ambassadors at his department in Dublin.

Later in the day he will also meet the Foreign Minister of Slovenia.