Brussels, 30/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Union is due to meet the countries of Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and panama) on 6-10 July to pursue negotiations on a bi-regional association and cooperation agreement, to be signed in 2010 under Spanish Presidency (see EUROPE 9708). However, the military coup which has removed Manuel Zelaya's government from power in Honduras could impinge on the partners' aim of concluding talks in July. The Latin America Committee at the EU Council will meet on Wednesday 1 July to take stock of the situation and to decide whether the EU should convene talks in Brussels next week, the Spanish news agency EFE reports. Raül Romeve i Rueda (Greens-EFA, Spain) says that “the European Union should cancel next week's planned trade negotiations with the Honduran authorities” because “EU association agreements have democracy clauses that have clearly been violated by the new administration that is in place”. On Tuesday 30 June, the Czech Presidency, on behalf of the EU, called for the “immediate release” of government representatives being held in prison and called on all parties to work to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. It was important to ensure “that fair, timely and transparent presidential elections are held in November 2009,” it said in a press release. (M.B./transl.rt)