Brussels, 06/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - US Secretary of State Colin Powell is to take part on 10 December in The Hague at the bi-annual meeting of the EU ministerial troika with the United States. Participants include Bernard Bot, Javier Solana and Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Items on the agenda pertain to: Ukraine, Iraq, Middle East Peace Process, Iran, Afghanistan, the Balkans, China and Russia. In an interview with Reuters, Mr Powell (who is soon to be replaced by Condoleezza Rice) states that President Bush intends during his second mandate to "put his hand out" to the EU and will soon be on a visit to Europe (see EUROPE of 4 December, p.5). "There are so many fields in which the United States works closely and successfully with Europe", Mr Powell said, citing the political crisis in Ukraine, where the EU and the United States have given their assurance that their actions and positions will be closely coordinated in order to send "coherent messages" to the parties involved.