Initially scheduled for the end of June, the proposed conclusion of the EU/Mercosur trade agreement and its legal basis are still not on the table at the EU Council. The Commission will keep its promise to present the texts by the end of the summer, said European Commission trade spokesman Olof Gill. Although he claims never to have promised a text before the end of June, a senior official from the Commission’s DG Trade had given this timetable to MEPs (see EUROPE 13666/6) and the Commission had informed the EU Council in advance, according to two European sources. The Commission is said to be working on a solution that would satisfy French demands for safeguards on certain agricultural products. On Thursday 3 July, Brazilian President Lula da Silva said he was “convinced” that he would be able to sign the agreement with the EU before the end of the year. (LM)