EU leaders will formally sign a treaty today allowing 10 new members to join the union. They will do so in a special signing ceremony at a summit in Athens, paving the way for enlargement of the EU next year. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern attending the summit in the Greek capital.
The signing ceremony is likely to be overshadowed, however, by divisions on Iraq at other summit sessions, with demands likely from some leaders for greater international involvement in post war Iraq. UN secretary general Kofi Annan is attending the summit to canvas views on a role for the UN in the rebuilding of the war ravaged country. Thousands of anti-war and anti globalisation demonstrators are expected to take to the streets of Athens in protests to mark the summit. Ten thousand police are on standby to prevent trouble. //www.fxcentre.com