Brussels, 19/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - In conclusions adopted on 16 March on the basis of the communication on “trade, growth and development” presented end January by the Commission (see EUROPE 10541), European trade ministers welcome the Commission's new course of action to make trade a lever for development in the poorest countries over the next decade. The Council supports the idea of establishing a differentiation between development countries, to better account for their economic differences and for the design and implementation of EU policies on trade, investment and development, in order to better target the least advanced countries and the developing countries that need aid the most. To this end, the Council calls for rapid adoption of a new GSP regulation to allow economic operators the time to adjust. The Council also underlines the undeniable role of the multilateral approach for combating protectionism and resolving international trade issues. The Commission is invited to present, in 2015, a report on the follow-up to be given to the Council's conclusions. (EH/transl.jl)