Ahern to meet Schroeder and eastern European leaders

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is due to travel to Germany this morning for talks with eastern European leaders and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

The meetings are part of a series of discussions aimed at restarting negotiations on a proposed EU constitution.

Mr Ahern said yesterday that it could be some time before the negotiations are back on track because of upcoming Spanish, Greek and European Parliament elections.