Ministers from the 15 EU nations - plus their colleagues from 10 nations that join the union next May - gathered in this seaside resort to debate how they can convince poorer nations the EU wants to open its agricultural markets to outside competition.

"Although the effort to increase the liberalization of markets is essential, we cannot remain indifferent to the persistence of a sharply unequal distribution of resources," Italian Agriculture Minister Giovanni Alemanno said ahead of the meeting.

EU Agricultural Commissioner Franz Fischler will brief the ministers on the world trade talks last week in Cancun, Mexico. The 146 members of the World Trade Organization failed to make any progress on reducing farm subsidies and tariffs.

Fischler believes the talks can be salvaged as the EU remains determined to press ahead with reforms on farm payments which currently still account for around 43 billion (US$49 billion) a year.

"One thing I can promise, for us, there is no way back. Europe will continue the path of agriculture reform," Fischler said this week.

"We will continue to change our farm policy to make it more competitive, trade-friendly and more in tune with the interests of the poor countries."