Brussels, 23/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 23 October the European Commission adopted its communication on options being outlined over the next three months for the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) negotiated between the EU and six ACP regions (EUROPE 9528). Although the Commission's aim is still to conclude “comprehensive, full economic partnership agreements with all interested ACP countries and regions” by 31 December, the Commission acknowledged that in several cases this would not be possible. Whatever happens, the Commission believes that an agreement on the liberalisation of products with good provisions on market access is the minimum required for this date, the same for finalising comprehensive EPAs in 2008. Peter Mandelson warned that “to avoid disrupting ACP exports from 1 January, we need WTO-compatible agreements for all regions soon…Proposals to liberalise, for example, 60% of imports over a 25-year period, will get us nowhere at the WTO”. The commissioner for trade employed these terms on 22 October at the European Parliament's external trade committee, as a prelude to the adoption of the communication. (A.N.)