Taoiseach Brian Cowen continues his tour of European countries to discuss the Lisbon Treaty impasses in London today, where he is meeting British prime minister Gordon Brown at Downing Street this morning.
Other issues likely to be discussed are the international financial crisis and climate change.
Yesterday, Mr Cowen met German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin and the prime minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker.
Dr Merkel told Mr Cowen in Berlin last night that she was keeping an "open mind" on how best to resolve the Lisbon impasse.
"We trust the Irish Government is doing everything it can to move forward the European process," said Dr Merkel. She assured Mr Cowen that there was a "mutual understanding of each other's expectations and wishes" and that "Germany is prepared to work very closely with Ireland".
She told the German lower house of parliament today she believed the EU would succeed in implementing the treaty despite Ireland’s referendum result. rejection of the reform document by Irish voters in June.
"I believe that we will manage to put into effect the Lisbon Treaty," she said, giving no time frame. "Ireland is working intensively on ratifying the treaty and we support their efforts.”
Mr Cowen said he was “hopeful” that a compromise solution can be found to salvage the Treaty.
The Taoiseach’s round of meetings will finish tomorrow when he travels to Paris to meet president Nicolas Sarkozy, who holds the presidency of the EU.
The tour comes ahead of a crucial European Council meeting on December 11th, when political leaders will discuss ways forward for the treaty after Ireland’s rejection in a referendum in June.