Cowen to visit PMs of Finland, Sweden

TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen will meet both the Swedish and Finnish prime ministers later this week for consultations on the Lisbon Treaty ahead of next month's European Council meeting.

Mr Cowen will fly to Helsinki on Thursday for an evening meeting with prime minister Matti Vanhanen. They will discuss the situation in relation to the Lisbon Treaty, as well as a number of other key EU issues including the climate change and energy package as well as the international financial crisis.

When in Helsinki, the Taoiseach is also expected to call on the president of Finland, Tarja Halonen.

Mr Cowen will then travel to Stockholm that evening for consultations with Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt on Friday morning next. Discussions there too are expected to centre on the Lisbon Treaty, but both men will also discuss the continuing international financial crisis and the climate change and energy package negotiations.

They will also address Sweden's priorities for the presidency of the European Union which it is preparing to assume in July of next year. The Taoiseach will return to Dublin on Friday evening.