Brussels, 15/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Permanent Representatives of the Fifteen did not conclude their discussions on Wednesday on the conditions for hosting thirteen Palestinians expelled from Israel following the lifting of the siege on the Church of the Nativity. Discussions will continue on Thursday, which does not necessarily mean that they will be concluded the same day, circles close to the Presidency say. During Monday's General Affairs Council, EU15 Foreign Ministers had given themselves until Sunday to settle all outstanding issues (EUROPE of 13/14 May, p.7). They must determine how the Palestinians will be shared out between the Member States willing to take them in. For now, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Ireland and Belgium have said they would be candidates. The Fifteen must decide what the status of such activists will be, and whether they will be free to move about in the host country and within the Schengen Area. The legal framework "is still not clear", explains one diplomat who considers discussions on this framework are "somewhat laborious". All agree at any rate that the status must be the same in each host country and should be clearly defined at EU level, adds the same diplomat. The thirteen Palestinians are for now "in transit" in Cyprus.