18/12/2013 (Agence Europe) -Enlargement and the Eastern Partnership. On Friday 20 December, the European Summit will discuss the Eastern Partnership after the Vilnius Summit at the end of November. The situation in Ukraine will be examined after the country suspended talks with the EU a few days before the summit and thousands of Ukrainians are still demonstrating on the streets, wanting closer ties with the EU. The Council of Minsters may express solidarity with the Ukrainian people and point out that the EU is ready to sign an association agreement when Ukraine wants, as long as the criteria have been met. After the summit, Herman Van Rompuy may make a statement to this effect. Europe's leaders are expected to endorse the conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 17 December on enlargement, postponing until June 2014 any decision on whether to allow Albania to become an EU candidate country and the opening of accession talks with Serbia in January. (CG/transl.fl)