Brussels, 20/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - EU Foreign Affairs Ministers, meeting on Monday in the General Affairs-External Relations Council, chaired by Ursula Plassnik, have given the European Commission a mandate to begin negotiations with Iraqi authorities on a trade and cooperation agreement. No dates were set by the Council, given the political uncertainty which continues to reign in Iraq, still awaiting the formation of a government after last December's elections. As soon as the Iraqi negotiator is nominated, the Commission will start talks with Baghdad to decide together the framework and the precise aims of the future negotiations. The EU would like the future agreement to cover trade in goods and services, investment and customs matters, protection of intellectual property rights, public markets and other sectors, said Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner in December 2005, when the Commission suggested the negotiation mandate to the Council (see EUROPE 9087). On 20 March, the plan won the approval of Ministers. The agreement will also contain a clause on human rights, weapons of mass destruction and the fight against terrorism, stressed the Commissioner. It is also expected to be in line with WTO rules and to contribute to the socio-economic development of Iraq, by improving living conditions, she emphasised. The EU has already granted Iraq preferential access to its markets and supports its joining the WTO.