Brussels, 19/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The French Presidency of the EU Council announced in a declaration (to which we shall return) that it intended proposing opening consultations with the Ivory Coast, as provided for under Article 96 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement in case of a break in the democratic process in a country signatory to this Agreement. The Presidency notes, in particular, that, during the 10 December legislative elections, part of the electorate was unable to vote (as did the European Parliament in a resolution adopted last week: see yesterday's EUROPE, p.4), and announces its intention of engaging in this consultation procedure, "to determine the conditions" of cooperation between the EU and the Ivory Coast in future.