EU: The incoming European Commission President, Mr Jose Manuel Barroso, will visit Dublin on Monday for talks with the Taoiseach in advance of the new Commission taking office next month.
Mr Barroso's spokesman said the meeting was in preparation for an EU summit on November 4th and 5th that is expected to be dominated by economic issues.
Mr Barroso has promised to make the rejuvenation of the Lisbon Agenda, a 10-year plan to make the EU more competitive, a priority of his term in office.
On November 3rd, Mr Barroso will receive a report from the former Dutch prime minister, Mr Wim Kok, which will outline proposals to put greater pressure on national governments to implement economic reforms.
Monday's meeting is part of a tour of European capitals Mr Barroso is undertaking before his term begins. It comes as the Commission President faces mounting opposition for appointing Mr Rocco Buttiglione, an Italian conservative, as Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner.
The European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee has rejected the nomination of Mr Buttiglione because of the Italian man's controversial and outspoken views on gays, women and immigration.