Brussels, 06/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - In line with the statement at the last G20 Summit in Pittsburgh at the end of September (see EUROPE 9986), EU and Brazilian leaders, meeting in their 3rd bilateral summit, in Stockholm on 8 October, will restate their “determination” to conclude the Doha Round in 2010. According to the draft final declaration, the leaders of the EU and Brazil affirm their commitment “to reach an ambitious, comprehensive and balanced agreement to fulfil the development objectives of the Doha Round, to significantly foster trade flows in agriculture, industrial goods and services among and between developed and developing countries, as well as to promote effective trade rules and trade facilitation”. “Closure of the Doha Round in 2010 should take place on the basis of progress already made, including with regard to modalities, and therefore (the EU and Brazil) call on WTO members to set out any specific demands they may have,” the text continues. This is to further increase the pressure on the United States to make their demands official. The EU and Brazil say that if there is no progress within this timeframe, “the objective of closing the Round in 2010 will be at risk”. The text concludes, “in order to effectively take stock of the situation no later than early 2010, Brazil and the EU agree that WTO members should from now until the time of the WTO ministerial conference engage in meaningful and frank discussions, including at the level of ministers”. (E.H./transl.rt)