Brussels, 01/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, will participate in the 10th Summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, on the 2nd and 3rd June. The summit aims to adopt a new road map for establishing a accustoms union and consolidating the regional integration process - an objective that the Commission supports as long as the foundation for the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) are negotiated between the EU and six ACP regions (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific). During the summit, Michel is expected to underline the potential offered by the EPA as a development instrument in a globalised world as well as the importance of making speedy progress in negotiations due to be concluded by the end of 2007. He is also expected to highlight the role of the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Community for the stability and prosperity of countries that have been subject to conflict. Michel will use the occasion for bilateral meetings with African leaders, particularly Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Sudan, Zambia and Nigeria. Louis Michel will meet President Paul Kagame and several Ministers of Rwanda. On Wednesday, with the backing of the Commission, he will express his support for the decentralisation process. Commissioner Michel will also address security issues and will ask President Kagame to remain committed to a peaceful strategy to disarm and reintegrate the ex-FAR/Interahamwe (FDLR) in East Congo.