The EU will sign its new trade and aid agreement with 71 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in the west African country of Benin on 23 June

Date: 15/06/2000

Plans to hold the signing ceremony in Fiji earlier this month were cancelled after a coup in the Pacific island. The new agreement, which replaces the 25-year-old Lomé Convention, will be called the Cotonou accord after Benin's capital.