Ahern to attend European Council meeting

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will attend the European Council in Brussels tomorrow.

Mr Ahern will be accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern and the Minister of State for European Affairs, Noel Treacy.

The main agenda item at the Council will be the future enlargement of the European union.

Following the formal conclusion of accession negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania, the European Council is expected to pave the way for the entry of these two countries into the EU in 2007.

The Council will decide on the opening of EU accession negotiations with Croatia.

The Council will also consider the opening of accession negotiations with Turkey.