Brussels, 11/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday the European Commission requested the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) set up a Panel over unfair Korean shipbuilding practices, at its next meeting (24 June). This decision was taken following the failure of bilateral and WTO consultations to reach an amicable solution (see Europe of 23 October 2002). Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said: "It is regrettable that Korea has shown no real will to resolve the issue in an amicable manner. In particular, we deplore the fact that Korea has failed to respect its commitments under the bilateral Agreement with the EU signed in June 2000 (the so-called Agreed Minutes). Furthermore Korea has made no efforts to find a solution during the three rounds of WTO consultations which have taken place since October 2002. (The most recent was held in May 2003, Ed.) This lack of progress has left us with no option but to take Korea to the WTO".