10/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 8 September, the European Commission presented to the EU Council of Ministers a draft decision in which it recommends extending the 2001 agreement establishing the terms of reference of the International Jute Study Group for one or two periods not exceeding a combined total of four years. At the meeting of the International Jute Study Group Council held in Dhaka on 5-6 April 2009, members unanimously reached a preliminary agreement on extending the mandate of the said Study Group for an initial period of two years, subject to formal approval by their national authorities. This extension, the Commission says, will allow sufficient time for members to assess the Group and eventually decide whether to negotiate a successor agreement by means of a further two year extension. (O.L./transl.rt)