As European leaders gather in Gothenburg for the climax of Sweden's presidency of the EU, enlargement and foreign affairs are expected to top the agenda.

The Belgians take over in July for a six-month presidency that is likely to be far more contentious.

Speaking in May, Belgium's prime minister, Guy Verhofstadt, said that as well as taking up Sweden's torch on EU enlargement, he would like to see an "integrationist" statement made at a European council to be held in Laeken this December.

"The EU is not just an inter-governmental setup. We want to go much further, to be a deeper, more profound organisation. In the Laeken declaration, we will try to go further than setting out a timetable... We want to turn it into a global project for Europe," he said.

Friday's Gothenburg council will focus on the issues of EU enlargement, relations with the US and the common foreign and security policy.

The council begins at 9.30am with a discussion with the European parliament president, Nicole Fontaine.

The day's discussions will then be organised into three strands, beginning with enlargement at 10.00am.

EU president, Goran Perrson has invited Irish premiere Bertie Ahern "to briefly comment on the recent outcome of the Irish referendum on the Nice Treaty".

And the EU's leaders are expected to tell Ireland that the recent "No to Nice" vote will not be allowed to create problems for the EU as a whole.

The summit then discusses a presidency report on the EU's future and "how we can continue the work to modernise our institutions".

At 12.30pm the European leaders break for a lunch hosted by Sweden's head of state, King Carl Gustaf XVI.

Resuming at 3.00pm, EU leaders are joined by finance ministers for a discussion focused on the EU's Broad Economic Policy Guidelines.

Gordon Brown has already drawn a line in the sand on this issue, giving a clear "hands off" signal to the commission on spending and tax issues.

The Swedish presidency is expecting leaders to "dwell on some issues" dealing with tax, pensions and the new WTO round.

The final session of the day focuses on "sustainable development".

The evening's working dinners will have a foreign policy focus and will be dominated by the fallout from US president, George W Bush's visit and the growing crisis in Macedonia.