Brussels, 02/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner has expressed confidence that the EU's 7 November General Affairs and External Relations Council will give the Commission a mandate to immediately start negotiating a visa facilitation agreement with Ukraine. At a conference of the presidents of EU Member States and accession countries' foreign affairs committees in London on 31 October, Ferrero-Waldner said she wanted businessmen, officials, students and tourists from neighbouring countries to be able to travel more easily in the EU as an important signal that it is not Fortress Europe, but rather simply an EU anxious to manage immigration. She hoped the EU would be able to grant Ukraine 'market economy' status at the EU-Ukraine Summit in Kiev on 1 December.