Luxemburg, 17/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - The exploratory debate among foreign ministers and their colleagues from development, in Luxemburg on 17 October, on the coherence of EU policies and the effectiveness of external action allowed the expression of the shared will to integrate development policies into the major challenges of EU foreign policy. Erkki Tuomioja, chairing the meeting, told press he welcomed this as a step forward in a priority area for the Finnish Presidency. Council backing for the EU's strategy for Africa and the willingness of the two partners to hold the second EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon next year under Portuguese Presidency were also held up as advances. “A lot of work remains to be done, but the EU-Africa troika, which met last week in Brussels, confirmed this willingness,” said Mr Tuomioja. The situation in Zimbabwe, however - the topic of a foreign ministerial debate - has not seen any progress whatsoever. “Since the conclusions adopted over a year ago, the situation has not improved: quite the contrary. Sanctions are still the order of the day,” deplored Mr Tuomioja. (an)