EU/CANADA: THREE DEALS AWAITING OTTAWA SUMMIT LEADERS ON DECEMBER 17.

Summary: Three Agreements are awaiting the formal approval of leaders at the European Union's Summit with Canada in Ottawa on December 17: on Veterinary Equivalence, Research and Development Cooperation, and Science and Technology.

The EU-Canada Summit will gather Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrtien, Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy, European Commission President Jacques Santer and the current President of the European Council, Austrian Chancellor Viktor Klima, as well as his Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schussel, and European Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan. The upbeat mood of the meeting looks in stark contrast to the EU's Summit in Washington the following day which appears overshadowed by a dispute over the EU's banana import regime. The Summit marks the second anniversary of the signature of the Canada-EU Political Declaration and Action Plan. "The relationship we have embarked on with the European Union holds great promise", said Mr Chrtien. "We are working together not only to advance key peace and security issues, but also to create an open harmonise trading environment in which people on both sides of the Atlantic can, with more ease and confidence, do business and trade with each other." The three Agreements should mark a significant...