Brussels, 02/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs and acting President of the EU Council Anna Lindh, the Canadian Minister for Foreign Affairs, John Manley and the European Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten, will take part on Monday 5 March in Ottawa in an EU/Canada ministerial meeting.
The meeting will mainly concern: 1) issues of security and defence namely: EU/NATO and EU/Canada relations in this context (Canada showed its interest in the creation of a EU Rapid Reaction Force), peace keeping operations, disarmament; 2) human security including, mine clearance (during the second anniversary of the Ottawa convention) and cooperation with the Ukraine in this area, the non-dissemination of light arms, conflict prevention; 3) regional issues, including: Russia, China, the Congo, the Middle East and the Balkans; 4) climatic change.
The Ministers should also discuss, during lunch, transatlantic relations after the arrival of the new Bush Administration in the United States.