Luxemburg, 17/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - At the Agriculture Council in Luxembourg on Monday 16 April, France, supported by Germany, Austria, Poland, Belgium, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Cyprus and Portugal, expressed its concern at the way the negotiation of economic partnership agreements with the ACP countries was going. French minister Dominique Bussereau pointed out that the European Commission proposal allowed for the opening of the Community market to all goods from ACP countries with no customs duties or quota limits, from the moment the agreements come into force, scheduled for 1 January 2008. The only exceptions would be sugar and rice which would be allowed transition periods. France said in a note to the Council that, if this proposal was implemented, it could upset the balance achieved within the framework of the reform of the common market organisation (CMO) for bananas and sugar. This group of ten countries also believes that the proposal on bananas with regard to the ACP countries could weaken the EU's negotiating position in the WTO and in the current dispute with Ecuador and Colombia. (lc)