Brussels, 11/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament has endorsed the report by German Social Democrat Erika Mann on Free Trade Zones and the EU's trading strategy, that recommends encouraging regional integration by signing agreements on Free Trade Zones (FTZs). The EP also calls on the European Commission to publish regular reports on its policy to incorporate non-trade aspects in regional and bilateral trade agreements; wants the EU to consider how to grant more aid to developing countries to enable them to take full part in trade negotiations; and wants the Commission to publish proposals to cut developing countries' losses following the cutting or scrapping of customs duty in trade agreements. It calls on the Commission and the EU High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, to prepare a detailed proposal together with the acceding countries, to further its new neighbour policy. All the amendments tabled by the GUE/NGL and Greens/EFA MEPs were rejected by the European Parliament apart from those calling for regionalism and Free Trade Zones to be designed more as a regional integration and economic, social, cultural and environmental development instrument; and for clauses foreseeing exceptions (to protect vulnerable sectors) to be added to GATT measures stipulating that customs duties and trade barriers should be scrapped in FTZs.