TÁNAISTE EAMON GILMORE travels to Berlin today for talks with the German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle.

Ireland’s efforts to stabilise its economy and meet the terms of the EU-IMF bailout deal will be key on the agenda, while the Middle Eastern peace process and the Arab Spring are also set for discussion.

Other matters for discussion will include follow-up to last month’s meeting of European heads of government, and Ireland’s forthcoming 12-month stint as chair of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), a UN security organisation.

Gilmore said he would be keen to emphasise the efforts Ireland was making to get its economy back on track and to emerge from the EU-IMF funding programme as soon as possible.

During his visit to Berlin, Gilmore will also host a business meeting with representatives from the Irish business community – something Gilmore said was important to ensure Ireland’s global business and trade relations.

“I expect our business ties to continue to develop as more and more Irish-owned companies supported by Enterprise Ireland seek to develop their business in Germany,” Gilmore said.