This assertion by Mandelson and Cissé follows a recent meeting between the two officials, where they discussed the state of play in the EPA negotiations between the EU and West Africa and responses to the recent rise in world food prices.

After the meeting Commissioner Mandelson said: "President Cissé and I are both pleased that work on our Economic Partnership Agreement is now proceeding well and we are committed to maintaining a highly constructive atmosphere and to keeping up the current momentum. On food prices we agreed on the need for investment in agricultural capacity in West Africa and access to markets for African farmers.

He added: "West Africa has one of the world's highest levels of unused farm capacity. In the long run the region can benefit from greater global food demand and open farm trade. Our new Economic Partnership Agreement will remove all tariffs and all quotas for all farm exports from West Africa to Europe."

President Cissé recalled that Heads of States of West Africa had mandated their negotiators to secure an Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU by mid 2009 at the latest.

He briefed Commissioner Mandelson on West African progress in preparing for the forthcoming negotiation rounds of June and July.

Both agreed that reinforcing regional integration in West Africa would be a priority in all chapters of the EPA.

The full regional EPA with West Africa will supersede the stepping stone EPAs with Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana signed at the end of 2007.