Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will attend an informal meeting of European Union heads of State and Government in Lahti, Finland today.
Organised by the Finnish Presidency, the focus of discussions will be on energy policy across the EU.
President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will join the meeting in the evening, at which, EU/Russian relations, including energy, will be discussed.
Also on the agenda will be innovation policy in the EU and the union’s external relations with regard to energy policy.
The next formal meeting of the European Council will take place in Brussels on December 14 and 15.