Brussels, 30/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - The detailed conclusions for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg 26 August-4 September) are the most important results of the Development Council, even though this contribution to the Summit must still receive the approval of the General Affairs Council. (EUROPE will return to this). During the debate, several Ministers stressed the specificity of the Development Council and the legitimacy of maintaining it (notably Germany, Luxembourg, Greece and Belgium) and taking the initiative, faced with the risk of having this council grouping disappear. In a statement to the press, Eddy Boutmans, Belgian Secretary General for Development gave a rundown on the Spanish Presidency' s diplomatic initiatives in this field carried out at the highest level in a follow up to Mr Solana's report on reform of the Council (also see PAGE 18). Streamlining the Development Council would be an error. The objective of contributing to the sustainable development and fighting against poverty with no specific body would mean that it would get drowned out in other General Affairs Council matters. Mr Boutmans said that this was worrying, especially in the structural link between ACP countries. He also added that the Spanish Presidency was trying to obtain consensus (Editor's note), while other diplomatic measures were trying to avoid it. The opinion of the Development Council was clear even if it doesn't have the power to decide, he added. EUROPE believes that the opinion of the European Commission has not been requested on this subject and the consultation has been limited to diplomatic contacts between the capitals. During the Council, Poul Nielson, European Commissioner for Development, launched an appeal to the 8 Member States who have not yet ratified the Cotonou agreement (Belgium, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Greece, Portugal, Luxembourg and Ireland) to do so before autumn and not to prevent the mobilisation of the 9th EDF funding, with any delay putting the highest performance ACP countries at risk and who have almost exhausted their resources from the last EDF funding. Belgium and Italy - the only countries that have not given a time-table to finish their procedures - were given a special mention by the Commissioner. They have given assurances that they would do their best. EUROPE will be returning to the other results of the session.