Brussels, 05/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - On the eve of the international summit on reform of the international financial system, which brings together on 15 November in Washington, the heads of state and governments from the G20 economic powers, the Doha multilateral negotiations, in an impasse since the last WTO ministerial (EUROPE 9714), have resurfaced in the internal discussions at the Council and are now threatening to weaken the European unity defended by the French presidency last July in Geneva. Contrary to the opinion of the latter, Germany and the United Kingdom want a strong appeal to be made in Washington in favour of relaunching the Doha round, preferably before the end of the year. A group of countries that includes Australia, Brazil and the US, are drawing up draft conclusions for the summit which call for Doha negotiations to be relaunched and issue a strong warning against protectionist temptation. With the support of the European Commission, Germany and the United Kingdom believe that the general relaunch of free trade, and the Doha round in particular, are the best way of overcoming the crisis and want a strong appeal in this sense to be expressed in the text. France is still opposed to a multilateral agreement that goes against the interests of French and European farmers and does not see this German-British initiative with a favourable eye and believes it doomed to failure. The French finance minster, Christine Lagarde said in an interview to the Figaro on 5 November, “I don't approve the operational character of such an appeal. In any case, George Bush is at the end of his mandate and the Americans will be unable to honour any promises”. The question is expected to be tackled during the Special European Council on 7 November in Brussels. Obliged by the duty of neutrality while exercising the presidency of the Council, France is not expected to oppose Berlin and London's initiative. (E.H./trans/rh)