The president of the European Commission is due to meet Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness in Belfast today for talks ahead of the restoration of power-sharing next week.
Jose Manuel Barroso is also due to meet Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern and Northern Secretary Peter Hain during a visit designed to underline EU support for the devolution project.
Mr Barroso is expected to promise continued EU resources to bolster the peace process.