Brussels, 04/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - As announced in autumn 2011, the European Commission on 3 April launched a public consultation to examine possible ways of updating the trade defence instruments of the EU, which have not been re-examined since 1995. Stakeholders have until 3 July to make their contribution to the debate. To feed into the discussions, the European executive is holding a conference in Brussels on 10 May. With proposals to be made by the end of this year, Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht must attempt to make headway on very dangerous ground, where his predecessor, Peter Mandelson, failed in 2008. For more information, see: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/consultations/?consul_id=167 . (EH/transl.fl)