21/06/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 21 June, national ambassadors to the EU gave the go-ahead for the adoption of the EU's negotiating mandate for the future partnership between the EU and the ACP group when the Cotonou Agreement expires in February 2020. It was possible to find compromise wording on the migration chapter to accommodate Hungary without upsetting the other delegations, and Poland’s final reservation of usage (to guarantee that any measure on reproductive rights doe not impact on its national legislation) was lifted. It will therefore be possible to adopt the negotiating mandate on Friday 22 June without debate on the fringes of the ECOFIN Council. The negotiations with the ACP countries will be able to begin by August (see EUROPE 12033). The group of ACP states has already adopted its negotiating mandate. (AN)