Report by Mr. Lamy on negotiations with China, briefing by Mr. Solana on his "suggestions for Balkans - Preparation of Ministerial meetings with Russia and Turkey

Brussels, 06/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - Next Monday in Luxembourg, the European Commissioner responsible for trade, Pascale Lamy, will report to the General Affairs Council, during a restricted session in the early morning, on the partial failure of the last negotiations between the EU and China over the conditions for accession of Beijing to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Previously the Council should finish its discussion on the reduction of training's in the Council, as suggested in the Trumpf/Piris report (see EUROPE of 18 March, p.8 and of 22 March, p.5). Notably following the merger between several specialised Council's, the Council training's should be reduced to fifteen.

After the Ministerial session of the Intergovernmental Conference (see other news on page 2, the Council will, during breakfast, prepare the cooperation Council with Russia of Monday evening (Mr. Gama will report to his colleagues on the Troika visit to Moscow: see previous article) and the Association Council (that will take place on Tuesday, two days after the general elections in Greece, as noted by some observers) with Turkey. Furthermore, the Secretary General/High Representative Javier Solana will present to the Ministers suggestions, as requested by the European Council in Lisbon, aiming to make the EU action in the Balkans better coordinated and more visible. At this stage, it should consist of a oral presentation and Mr. Solana should insist in particular on the need to strengthen the EU support for civil society and the democratic opposition in Serbia, by notably aiding the free press, and confirming the strong EU support for Montenegro (Mr. Solana met president Djukanovic on Wednesday evening).

Other themes on the agenda are:

• The conflict in Africa. Especially, the Italian under-secretary Mr. Serri will speak on the recent visit to the Horn of Africa. (Ethiopia and Eritrea);
• The Middle East peace process;
• A new extension, for six months of the Council's common position on Burma (this common position expires on 29 April), with a possible strengthening of sanctions.
• The situation in Zimbabwe (the United Kingdom called for the addition of the point of order; British MEPs called for aid to this ACP country to be suspended: see EUROPE of 5 April, p.6);
• The functioning of Irela (institute for relations with Latin America whose seat is in Madrid).