Below is an article written by Guy Jackson published by Yahoo News:

Foreign Ministers from the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet here [Nuremberg, Germany] Wednesday [14 March 2007] hoping to move towards a free trade deal between the regions. The EU is also set to indicate its willingness to provide humanitarian aid to Myanmar, without altering its strong opposition to the country's military junta.

The two-day meeting will also include discussions on moves to sign a non-aggression and cooperation pact between the 27-nation European bloc and the 10-country Asian body, whose membership ranges from wealthy Singapore to impoverished Laos and Cambodia.

The gathering in the southern German city marks a milestone as the partners are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their relations.

Behind the official EU line that the Nuremberg meeting is aimed at both sides "working together for security and stability in Asia," there is great concern from the Europeans at events in Myanmar.

The EU and the United States accuse Myanmar of massive human rights abuses and suppression of political dissent, including the continued detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is chairing the meeting because his country currently holds the EU presidency, will personally express the European concerns to Myanmar's foreign minister U Nyan Win, diplomats said.

His message is likely to fall on deaf ears as Myanmar has repeatedly refused to implement reforms demanded by its bigger ASEAN neighbours.

However, the EU is prepared to commit up to 10 million euros to a humanitarian package for Myanmar, to treat conditions such as tuberculosis and malaria.

In the absence of a trade deal with ASEAN as a whole, the EU is already well on the way to establishing an individual partnership agreement with Indonesia, the most populous ASEAN member with 225 million inhabitants.

Steinmeier said after meeting Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda in Berlin on Tuesday that Germany would "do its best to achieve the conclusion of the partnership talks," but warned that the Europeans expected more progress from the Indonesian authorities on fighting corruption.

Another issue likely to de discussed at the meeting are accusations from the EU mission monitoring elections in Aceh province that the Indonesian military has interfered in polling in some areas this month.

Indonesia played down the criticism, with Wirajuda saying "one or two incidents" should not detract from what he said were "peaceful, fair and democratic elections."

The Philippines, the current ASEAN chair, said it would use the meeting to brief its EU counterparts on the "solid achievements" from the ASEAN summit held in the country in January when leaders agreed to push for freer trade and more secure energy supplies.

Foreign Secretary (minister) Alberto Romulo said he would also be reviewing European efforts to help bring peace to the troubled southern Philippine island of Mindanao.

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.