The ACP Council of Ministers will hold its 85th session in ACP House (Brussels), from 22 to 24 May 2007, under the chairmanship of Lesotho.

It is expected that the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) negotiations will feature predominantly in the meeting. A consolidated position emanating from the six ACP negotiating regions is being finalized at this point for deliberations and eventually for discussions in the ACP-EC Joint Council of Ministers meeting scheduled for 25 May 2007.

Council will hear the report from the Committee of Ambassadors on the activities conducted since the 84th Session held in Sudan in December 2006, and the Secretary-General's report on the initiatives taken and the main tasks accomplished since the last Council session.

The ACP Ministers will also be expected to offer guidance and, where necessary, make decisions on the ongoing reform of the ACP Secretariat that began 2000. Its main objective is to enhance the effectiveness of the Secretariat in executing its institutional mandate and its role.

The meeting will afford the Ministers the opportunity to begin preparations for the 32nd session of the ACP-EC Council of Ministers, scheduled for 25 May 2007, and to examine the items on the meeting's agenda.

The Council session will be preceded on 20 and 21 May 2007 by the following meetings: Ministerial Committees and Consultations on Bananas, Sugar (Consultative and LDC Group), Cotton and the Development Finance Committee. ACP Secretariat, 09/05/07.