Luxembourg, 18/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - There was less likelihood this weekend at the informal Gymnich-type meeting of EU foreign ministers in Senningen (Luxembourg) that the EU would, by end June, reach an unanimous agreement on lifting the embargo on arms sales to China. Foreign ministers noted that there is currently no consensus among the Twenty-Five in favour of such a gesture. Although no delegation actually questioned the principle of the European Council decision of December 2004, which had affirmed the EU's political resolve to work in favour of lifting the embargo and which had invited the Luxemburg Presidency to complete its work so that a decision might be taken, opinions still differ greatly on how appropriate it is to take such a decision at this time. As German Minister Joschka Fischer had explained to the press, “some feel the time is not right” and that the necessary conditions for lifting the embargo have not yet been met. While work on strengthening the code of conduct and the “tool box” is moving forward well (diplomats say work is almost complete), China's attitude towards human rights is considered generally unsatisfactory by most member nations. To this must be added the fears relating to the current tension between China and Taiwan and also with Japan. In Senningen, the Twenty-Five were unanimous in stating that China should make a significant move on several fronts, mainly with regard to human rights, if it hopes to promote consensus and a rapid decision by the EU in this area. “All does not depend on the Presidency, or on the Commission or the Member States - there are some things that must come from the other party”, Jean Asselborn, who presided the Council, told the press. Joschka Fischer of Germany also felt there was a “whole range of positive things that China can do to help the EU to move toward consensus which depends on Beijing's movements”. These positive gestures include, Fischer said, ratification of the International Convention on civil and political rights (it would seem that the Chinese do not intend to contemplate ratification until 2006) as well as the release of detainees held since the Tiananmen Square incident. Although the French minister, Michel Barnier, considered it “desirable and realistic” for a decision to be taken under Luxembourg EU Council Presidency, diplomats say it is increasingly likely that lifting of the embargo will be postponed in 2006, after the British EU Presidency. Officially, the Presidency states it is still working towards a decision in June. “The EU will continue and seek to complete the work which is already in an advanced state of progress, so that a decision may be taken by end June”, Asselborn said. Sources close to the Presidency explain, however, that the “June decision” may also be that the European Council should defer the issue.