Cowen to face Sarkozy at Bastille Day celebrations in Paris

Taoiseach Brian Cowen is attending Bastille Day celebrations in Paris today.

Mr Cowen arrived in the French capital yesterday to attend the Union for the Mediterranean summit, which was attended by leaders from the EU, the Middle East and north Africa.

He is due to attend the Bastille Day parade this morning at the Place de la Concorde before concluding his Paris visit at a lunch hosted by President Nicolas Sarkozy, where the recent rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by Irish voters is expected to top the agenda.