Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 11, inclusive, together.

I attended the Eastern Partnership summit in Prague on 7 May. The summit marked the formal launch of the European neighbourhood policy, Eastern Partnership, by the heads of state and government of the EU member states and the six partner countries. Under the initiative, the EU will develop relationships, including trade, with the six partner countries and provide a framework to promote democracy; good governance and stability; economic integration and convergence with EU policies; energy security and greater contact between our peoples. Ireland fully supports the European neighbourhood policy, ENP, including the Eastern Partnership initiative, and is particularly supportive of the objective of promoting reform in all ENP countries. We recognise that the differing capacities and needs of individual partner countries will of course influence the development of their individual relationships with the EU.

I recently received a copy of the agenda for the European Council, which I will attend tomorrow. The main topics for discussion are institutional issues; the economic, financial and social position; climate change and sustainable development; and external relations. The European Council will take a number of important decisions on future financial regulation within the Union. Ireland fully accepts the need and the urgency of putting in place the proposed new system. However, this view is not unanimously held. There will also be discussion of the European economic recovery plan and on employment in particular.

With regard to climate change, the main goal is in bringing the global negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion at Copenhagen in December and this week's Council will take important steps towards ensuring that the EU continues to give leadership on that front. The Council is also expected to discuss illegal migration.

From an Irish perspective however, the key focus will be on gaining agreement for the guarantees which forms part of the agreement reached last December when I undertook that we would hold a second referendum on the Lisbon treaty provided we retained a Commissioner per member state and secured satisfactory legal guarantees. The guarantees are intended to provide reassurance to people about concerns which they were shown to have about the Lisbon treaty.

There are currently no firm arrangements agreed for meetings with other EU leaders ahead of the June European Council. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and I, as well as our officials, have been in intensive contact with our counterparts in recent weeks and I expect that we will have a busy few days ahead.

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