Cowen holds talks with Finnish PM
Thursday, 27 November 2008 19:11The Taoiseach has met Finnish Prime Minister Matti Taneli Vanhanen in Helsinki.
Brian Cowen will also meet President of Finland Tarja Halonen before he travels to Sweden to meet Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.
Topics discussed included the Lisbon Treaty, Europe's response to the international financial crisis and climate change.
The Taoiseach said finding a solution and a way forward on Lisbon was a process of engagement with other countries, which was now intensifying.
Mr Vanhanen added that a solution to the Lisbon situation to allow for Irish ratification needed to be found with the need for other countries to re-ratify the treaty.
The meetings take place ahead of December's European Council gathering.
Mr Cowen will take soundings on Sweden's priorities for the Presidency of the EU, which it will assume next July.
The Taoiseach is due to meet with Ms Halonen tomorrow morning.
Mr Cowen will have an official working lunch with Mr Reinfeldt in Stockholm tomorrow before returning to Dublin.
