European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquín Almunia will visit Ireland on Friday for talks with Minister for Finance Brian Cowen, it emerged today.
The European Commission Representation in Ireland said Mr Almunia would also meet with several senior Irish economists to assess current EU monetary and budgetary policies.
The Commissioner - who was formerly Spain's Minister of Employment and Social Security and Minister of Public Administration - has held his EU portfolio since April 2004.