Brussels, 16/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - Last Friday, the EU Council of Ministers formally adopted the negotiating mandate for a trade and cooperation agreement with Iran, following its political agreement at the 17 June General Affairs Council. We recall that the political agreement in question came with a political message to Iran on 5 main areas of concern: human rights and fundamental freedoms, non-proliferation, fight against terrorism, Afghanistan and the Middle East (see EUROPE of 17 and 18 June, p.5). Negotiations on the trade and cooperation agreement will take place in parallel with negotiations on an EU-Iran political dialogue and EU-Iran cooperation on counter-terrorism. The agreement on trade and cooperation and the agreement on political dialogue and on counter-terrorism will form an "indissociable whole". The opening of negotiations is expected to take place in the autumn this year.