The Taoiseach has said he's 'as confident as he can be' that he will be in a position to name Romano Prodi’s successor as EU Commission President next week.
Mr Ahern plans to talk to French President Jacques Chirac by phone this evening and hopes to contact German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
As outgoing EU president the Taoiseach has been intensively engaged in the search for Mr Prodi's successor.
Mr Ahern has been reportedly gauging support for Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barosso. The Lusa news agency in Portugal has claimed that Mr Barraso will decide on Saturday whether to accept the position of Commission President.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Six-One news, Mr Ahern said he hoped for seven major declarations from the EU - US summit in Dromoland on issues ranging from disarmament to trade.
He also said the controversy over the use of Shannon by US forces involved in the war in Iraq was now part of history, as the most recent UN resolution commits members to helping Coalition forces engaged in the conflict.
