Brussels, 24/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - On 21 January the Council voted, without recourse to a debate, for a partial suspension of European Union co-operation with Haiti. This will be extended for another year until 31 December 2002. Consultation with the country had begun on 26 September 2000 under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement between the European Union and 77 ACP countries. This consultation process began in the wake of the Haitian authorities refusal to take into account European concerns about the way in which votes were counted during general and local election on 21 May 2000. The first and only consultation meeting that took place was judged non-conclusive by European Union representatives and led the Union to take "appropriate measures" on 29 January, which if no other satisfactory solution is found, will allow Article 96 to be applied to deal with the irregularities witnessed by the European Union. The decision of 29 January 2001 for a partial suspension of co-operation with Haiti expired on 31 December. The Council, which decided to proceed before the new revised date was decided, is of the opinion that the political situation in Haiti is not one that will allow for any reducing or suspending of sanctions. It will not put EU 44.4 million at Haiti's disposal from the EDF, direct budgetary aid will be suspended, reorientation of the remainder of the first instalment from the EDF towards projects where the direct beneficiaries will be the Haitian population itself and the non-programming of resources from the ninth EDF.