Brussels, 21/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Friday (see yesterday's EUROPE page 2),ACP Trade and Finance Ministers defined the directives of the ACP Group for negotiations over economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with the Union. They devote the unanimous ACP agreement to the need to: - preserve the unity, solidarity and cohesion of the ACP States as well as the Lome acquis; - negotiate EPAs that are not only trade concessions but instruments for eradicating poverty; - two-phase negotiations: the first from 27 September 2002 to September 2002 will be on issues of a common interest, the aim and scope of the content of the EPAs, as well as the financing of the costs for adapting the ACP economies; the second: 2003-2008 devoted to negotiations with regional entities or ACP states prepared to do so. A precise timetable must be decided upon (EUROPE will return). This negotiating mandate will be submitted for approval to the ACP Council of Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) that will precede the ACP/EU ministerial session (28 June). Poul Nielson, European Commissioner for development is off to the Dominican Republic on Sunday for prior talks on co-operation between the Union and that country, and to visit on the ground Community-funded projects.