(ROME) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi voiced worries Saturday about a possible global free trade pact being negotiated in Geneva, in telephone conversation with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a government statement said.

The statement said Sarkozy, whose country currently holds the presidency of the European Union, "shared the deep concern expressed" by Berlusconi over the text of the agreement being discussed in Geneva.

Rome fears its interests would not be sufficiently taken into account on the so-called geographical indications issue, which concerns the protection of origin names of agricultural produce such as Parma ham from Italy, it added.

Rome was also concerned about the question of access to the industrial markets of emerging countries, the statement said.

During their telephone conversation Berlusconi and Sarkozy also "shared the need for an agreement taking account of the expectations of developing countries," it said.

They also underlined the "absolute necessity for Europe of a positive and balanced result which offers European citizens benefits in regard to the sacrifices" they might have to make.

In Geneva, French Trade Minister Anne-Marie Idrac said Saturday that EU member states wanted trade negotiator Peter Mandelson to improve the terms of a draft trade agreement under discussion by WTO countries.

She said European Union nations had to "improve the accord" proposed late Friday by WTO chief Pascal Lamy, as world ministers headed to meetings in a bid to finally bridge their differences after years of deadlock.

Mandelson pointed out, however, that European ministers had "concerns" on the geographical indications issue.

He told reporters that world ministers would meet again Sunday with EU backing "to work on this emerging deal as the basis of a modalities package which we believe could unlock a final phase of a Doha agreement."

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