Brussels, 25/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission was at pains on Wednesday to play down the initiative taken by its president, Jose Manuel Barroso, to invite a small number of European leaders to a meeting in Sintra on 12-13 May to discuss the future of Europe (see EUROPE 9413). A Commission spokesperson said it would not be a mini-summit or an attempt to interfere with the current consultations being carried out by the German presidency to prepare for the June European Council, but rather a 'very informal brainstorming' on the future treaty, energy and climate change. The spokesperson said Barroso would be organising other meetings of this nature in the future, to which he would be inviting other leaders. The Commission has not yet published the names of the heads of state invited to the Sintra meeting, but says it will be balanced and representative. Chancellor Angela Merkel and Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende have been invited, Germany and the Netherlands revealed on Thursday. Merkel has not yet decided whether to attend, however, her spokesperson explained. (hb)