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Taoiseach to Travel to European Council and Meeting of Heads of State and Government of the Euro Area, 23 October 2011

The Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny T.D., will travel to Brussels today to participate in a meeting of the European Council and a meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the Euro area.

The Taoiseach stated:

It is important that this weekends meeting of Euro Area leaders in Brussels arrives at political decisions that can subsequently be endorsed at the Eurozone meeting on Wednesday. Decisiveness must be shown by all leaders in finding solutions to the current crisis so that much needed confidence can be restored to markets and certainty provided for all citizens of the EU.

The European Council will consider measures to enhance growth and job creation. It will also discuss preparations for the G20 Summit in Cannes, as well as climate change ahead of the Durban Conference. In addition, there will be a discussion on the latest economic developments, and President Van Rompuy will brief the Council on proposals for the Euro Area Summit.

The meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the Euro Area will take place after the European Council and will seek to reach a political agreement on a package of measures necessary to address the inter-related issues facing the Euro Area.

Some Member States have requirements to go back to their national parliaments. This will happen during the first half of next of next week.

A further meeting of Euro Area leaders is now expected to take place on Wednesday, 26 October, at which it is intended the political decisions will be finally endorsed.