(ACCRA) - Leaders of the world's poorest nations on Thursday began talks on tackling food and energy crises, but also sought to conclude a crucial joint deal on trade with the European Union.

Incoming chairman of the 79-strong African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), Ghanaian leader John Kufuor, bemoaned the divisive effect of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) proposed by the EU.

Already, some ACP nations have initialled the interim deal despite strong reservations from critics, chief among them anti-poverty activists.

"The EPAs divide the solidarity that used to bind the ACP countries together under the pretext of giving regional emphasis to the relationship between the EU and the ... ACP regions," said Kufuor in his opening address to the 6th ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government.

The new agreements, some of which are to be concluded within weeks, would require ACP countries to gradually open their markets to European goods in exchange for open access to European markets.

The pacts proposed by the EU are meant to replace existing trade deals giving European countries preferential market access to former colonies, but have been ruled illegal by the World Trade Organisation.

Glenys Kinnock, who chairs the joint ACP-EU parliamentary assembly acknowledged the problems.

She argued that the EPAs cemented the lack of equality between EU and ACP states by insisting on the "mantra of reciprocity" between countries who were not equals.

"These are testing times for the EU-ACP relations. The EU should show more flexibility, not insist on comprehensive EPAs signed with countries who feel they have more to gain from free trade agreements," said Kinnock.

But Kufuor made it clear there were other, equally pressing issues for the two-day conference.

"Other urgent issues of equal importance ... are climate change and its environmental consequences, the current financial crisis, turbulence in the crude oil market, soaring food prices and terrorism from whoe ngative impact nobody anywhere is exempt," said Kufuor.

The international financial crisis has seen major Wall Street firms collapse and Western governments bail out failed banks, mortgage lenders and companies.

Many of the 79 ACP member states have already been hard hit by escalating prices of fuel and basic foodstuffs.

"This summit comes at a crucial point in history," Sudan's President Omar al-Belshir, the outgoing chairman of the ACP bloc, said at the opening ceremony, citing a "sharp rise in oil and food prices."

The leaders are expected to wind up their summit in the west African capital city of Ghana with a call on the international community to agree on a strategy to stabilise oil prices at affordable levels.

ACP nations are also expected to ask donor countries to help develop alternative, more sustainable sources of energy.

Formed in 1975, the ACP group now comprises 48 sub-Saharan African countries, 16 Caribbean and 15 Pacific states.

The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

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