EU leaders will today attempt to put the Nice treaty back on track after an Irish referendum rejecting it.

The European council meeting in Gothenburg, will press on with plans to admit the first of up to 12 new members in a programme of enlargement.

But the EU will also go some distance to give the Irish prime minister, Bertie Ahern, the assurances he needs to win a "Yes" vote when the referendum is put back to Ireland.

A key concession will be an opt-out for Ireland to tackle domestic concerns about the country's neutrality and involvement in the EU's rapid reaction force - seen to be too close to NATO for many Irish people.