Brussels, 24/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - Mali is again on the agenda of the EU Foreign Affairs Council to be chaired by Catherine Ashton in Brussels on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 May. The meeting will provide an opportunity for EU27 ministers to take stock of preparations for the elections, to be held on 28 July, and the prospects for national reconciliation.
The EU27 will also be briefly informed of the unexpected success of the donors' conference held in Brussels on 15 May on Mali's economic and democratic recovery, “Together for renewal of Mali”, which brought pledges of €3.25 billion (see EUROPE 10846). The Council will also be informed of the progress made by the mission for training the Malian armed forces, EUTM Mali. The brief conclusions to be adopted should above all confirm the importance that the EU attaches to holding elections at the date set, and express the support of ministers for deployment of an EU electoral observation mission. (AN/transl.jl)