Brussels, 20/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - Over 200 people took part in the meeting organised in Brussels these past few days by the European Commission between its officials, NGOs, MEPs and 55 Indigenous Peoples' leaders, whose culture, environment and survival are threatened, notably by certain Community financed projects. According to Fernando Marzo, Deputy Director General in the European Commission, "the European Commission is ready to give an answer to the legitimate expectations of indigenous populations". Seven case-studies on projects funded by the Commission and implemented by the local population in different countries (Cameroon, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Panama, Philippines and Thailand) to protect their resources and traditional life styles, guided the work. The aim of the conference, which ended Thursday evening, was to draw concrete lessons to align Commission practices on the new policy adopted by the EU in favour of indigenous peoples, to defend their rights, protect their culture and their environment in the framework of the Union's co-operation policy. The Council resolution of November 1998 on indigenous populations stresses the importance the Union attaches to establishing partnerships with them to attain the objectives of eliminating poverty, sustainable development and strengthening the respect of human rights and democracy.