SOUTH Africa’s negotiations for a free trade agreement with the European Union may not even make it onto the agenda of Monday’s EU council of ministers meeting, a senior official warned on Thursday. South Africa hopes a draft deal struck between Trade Minister Alec Erwin and the EU Commissioner responsible for Africa, Joao de Deus Pinheiro, will be ratified by the council on Monday. Parliament could then ratify it before the end of the current session on March 26. However, if the council does not consider the issue, it will be shelved until its next meeting in a month’s time.