20/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - The British Presidency has issued the following statement on behalf of the European Union on the Senegal-Gambia border dispute: 'With regard to the current border closure affecting Senegal and the Gambia, the European Union welcomes the ECOWAS decision to undertake mediation in the dispute. The EU believes that the dispute is in the interests of neither Senegal nor the Gambia, and that its continuation will have a negative economic impact regionally. A well-functioning and efficient transport route over the Gambia River would benefit the entire region economically, and would further be in line with ECOWAS principle of free movement of goods. The EU suggests therefore that a swift and amicable settlement is in the interests of all, and would strongly encourage both sides to show restraint and engage seriously in the ECOWAS mediation.'