Brussels, 26/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - Monday's General Affairs/External Relations Council approved without debate the mandate entrusted to it by the European Commission for negotiating with the ACP States (African, Caribbean and Pacific) amendment of the Cotonou Agreement concluded in 2000 for twenty years. This five year review is one of the provisions of the partnership agreement for development (Article 95, paragraph 3). The changes that the Union advocates aim at greater flexibility of...