British Isles Leaders Join EC's Libya Debate

Both the newly elected Premier of the Irish Republic, Enda Kenny and the UK PM, David Cameron are in Brussels today to participate in an Extraordinary Meeting of the European Council.

The meeting was convened by President Van Rompuy to discuss the situation in Libya and the surrounding areas. The Taoiseach (pictured) joined discussions that are likely to focus on how the European Union can best support democratic transformation.

They will encourage reforms and promote regional security and prosperity, thus ensuring solid foundations for stability in Libya and throughout the whole southern neighbourhood.

The Informal Meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the Euro area will also discuss how to develop stronger economic policy coordination in the Euro area.

It will also take stock of progress on other elements of a comprehensive package to address the economic challenges facing Europe, which is to be finalised at the meeting of the European Council at the end of the month.

Speaking at the summit, Prime Minister David Cameron said that European leaders must show "political will" and unity, as he also called for an end to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

As Gaddafi's supporters make gains against rebels in Zawiya and Ras Lanuf, London and Paris are working to build support to authorise a no-fly zone in Libya.

In Brussels, the European Council meeting aimed to address the unrest as Gaddafi's forces storm previously unheld territory.

Employing aircraft and helicopters to launch attacks, Gaddafi's regime has been described as "waging war against his own people".

The PM said "I think it's important that the countries of Europe show political will, show ambition, show unity in being clear that Colonel Gaddafi must go and that his regime is illegitimate that what it is doing to his people is completely unacceptable.

"We are going to step up today, in the European Council, measures to isolate that regime and measures to put pressure on that regime and we should plan for every eventuality as I've been arguing now for around two weeks, this is absolutely vital work," said the UK leader.

(JG)