(GENEVA) - The European Union said on Friday it still hoped ministers would meet at the WTO at the end of May to end years of trade liberalisation talks despite scepticism within its own ranks.

"There is a clear understanding that if we want to conclude talks by the end of the year, then we need to have a ministerial meeting by the end of May," the EU's ambassador to the World Trade Organisation Eckhart Guth told AFP.

"We are still working on this assumption, though nothing is guaranteed, nothing is set in stone," he said.

The WTO's Doha round of talks to reduce trade barriers was launched in the Qatari capital in November 2001 with the aim of reaching a deal by 2004, but has foundered ever since, principally in disputes between developed and developing countries on agricultural subsidies and industrial tariffs.

WTO Director General Pascal Lamy had initially hoped to bring ministers to Geneva over Easter to decide on "modalities" -- the key numbers for tariff cuts that would form the basis for any comprehensive deal.

But this timetable has repeatedly had to be put back as the WTO's 151 member states prove incapable of reaching consensus despite intensive technical discussions.

In a sign of growing opposition within the bloc's 27 member states, Germany on Thursday added its voice to criticisms by France of any proposed further cuts in subsidies to EU farmers.

"We agree with France that no agreement (at the WTO) is better than a bad agreement," said German state secretary for agriculture Gert Lindemann.

But Guth said that there was no "Plan B" to the proposed timetable or negotiating framework.

"If one starts talking about a Plan B now, it very quickly becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy," the EU ambassador said.

A ministerial meeting in late May is seen as the last chance, otherwise the whole process will be overshadowed by the looming US presidential elections.

In logistical terms, any delay beyond May could pose problems in terms of accommodation for ministers and their teams, as Switzerland will host the Euro 2008 football championships in June with Geneva as one of the main venues.

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