Brussels, 22/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the General Affairs Council adopted a "set" of conclusions on preparations for the WTO Ministerial conference in Cancun (Mexico)on 10-14 September. On agriculture, the Fifteen stressed that after the political agreement on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the EU would now find a way of making sure that the negotiations achieved an "ambitious result". The conclusions, however, point out that the Agriculture Council had indicated that the margin for manoeuvre offered by CAP could not be used in the negotiations on the Doha Development Agenda except on the conditions that there were "equivalent agricultural concessions from the EU's WTO partners". On market access for industrial products, the Council hopes to see that modalities for negotiations are set out at Cancun, likewise for agricultural products. The conclusions highlight that reductions in duties have to be based on a "simple and single formula" and that they need to attack at the same time the issue of non-tariff barriers whose impact on trade remains very high. The General Affairs Council also stressed the need to set up an exact time table for negotiations on services. Ministers appealed to other WTO member to submit their additional tenders on services and improve existing offers. Access to medicines: the Fifteen appealed to the USA to abide by the conclusions reached by other WTO members countries last December. In this connection they also want WTO members at Cancun to agree to a package of measures that are concrete and substantial for agreeing to developing countries having preferential treatment. They also emphasise that getting rid of duties and quotas imposed by the developed countries on the poorest countries would also be desirable. The council indicates that the Cancun meeting should conclude negotiations on implementing a multilateral system of geographical notification and registering for wines and spirits. In a press statement, the European Commissioner in charge of trade, Pascal Lamy expressed his satisfaction at the conclusions.