The ‘fiscal pact’ signed by 25 member states is the main bone of contention that will be discussed at the first meeting, on 15 May, between the newly elected French President François Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Meanwhile, ratification of this treaty is continuing.

The lower house of the Polish parliament gave the green light for ratification, on 12 May, despite Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s criticisms of the document in January. To be ratified by the Polish head of state, the pact has to be endorsed by the Senate.

More than 50% of Irish voters, who will deliver a verdict on the fiscal pact in a referendum on 31 May, are now in favour of the text, according to a poll published by the Sunday Business Post,on 13 May. According to the survey results, 53% of the Irish plan to vote in favour of the pact, a six-point increase from the previous poll published by the same newspaper two weeks ago, while 31% plan to vote against it and 16% are still undecided. Fine Gael, the party of Prime Minister Enda Kenny, the Labour Party, a partner in the government, and Fianna Fail, the main opposition party, are all campaigning for ratification.

Greece, Portugal and Slovenia have already ratified the pact.