Resolution on the prospects for the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) following the Seventh WTO Ministerial Conference

The Council took stock of the preparations for the 7th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

It congratulated Commissioner Catherine Ashton on her nomination as the first High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to be appointed under the Lisbon Treaty.

It also took note of information provided by the Commission and the comments made by delegations on preparations for the 7th ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The Council also stressed the crucial role of the WTO in the current economic and financial crisis, and its full endorsement of the WTO's efforts to provide an effective monitoring process to counter protectionism.

The EU intends to play a very active role during the conference, to make progress on the themes of the two working sessions, without losing sight of the effects of the current economic downturn on least developed countries.