18/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - The trialogue meeting on the draft directive on public procurement in the security and defence sector, held on Wednesday 17 December, brought agreement between the Council and European Parliament. COREPER is expected to authorise its president, on Friday, to sign the letter approving the content of the agreement so that it may be formally approved by the European Parliament in plenary session in January 2009. This signature will definitively close negotiations on the two defence package proposals. Four member states (Belgium, Netherlands, Poland and Portugal) did not back the Council's consolidated position, but we understand that Belgium may ultimately go with the majority view. (O.J./transl.rt)