Brussels, 30/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - Trade Ministers from the European Union will be discussing with 13 candidate country counterparts (ten CEEC, Cyprus, Malta and Turkey) in Rome on 31 May-1 June the enlargement ramifications for trade, as well as strengthening co-operation between them on WTO issues and the implementation of an action programme for development (APD) decided on at Doha last year. 28 Ministers will use this meeting as an occasion for discussing enlargement (the last time before the expected conclusion on enlargement negotiations at the end of the year) and the ultimate trade issues that remain in accession negotiations. Other issues will also be tackled, such as regional issues, trade liberalisation with the Western Balkans, the evolution of economic relations with Russia and other CIS countries and the Mediterranean. The EU and candidate countries fully support the new trade round in multi-lateral negotiations and in Rome are expected to re-assert their intention to collaborate more closely in order to attain this objective. European Commissioner for Trade, Pascal Lamy, will use the event (which is currently being organised by Malta) for holding bi-lateral meetings with ministers from several candidate countries. "This meeting offers us a precious occasion for speaking with a single voice on trade matters. Now that the Doha action programme for development is speeding up, we must give out a clear message that we support the multi-lateral agenda, commented Mr Lamy before leaving