Brussels, 09/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - In terms of trade policy, the Danish Presidency is making the Doha round, locked in stalemate since July 2008, the number one priority of its term in office at the Council for the next six months.
Given the global economic crisis, it is vital for the EU to create the best general conditions possible for European businesses in terms of export, reinforcing global production and investment chains, by means of its trade policy, the services of the Danish Presidency explain in a document laying out its priorities. Copenhagen wants to help to bring closer political dialogue between the EU and its neighbouring countries, its strategic partners and its other partners among the developing countries, by reinforcing commercial ties and improving mutual market access. According to the Danish Presidency, “special action is required” to continue the liberalisation of trade with European neighbours, particularly by means of talks for in-depth and full free-trade agreements, such as the ones put together (but not yet signed) with Ukraine, or those on which negotiations will start this spring with Georgia and Moldova, and possibly Armenia as well, if conditions allow. However, the Presidency is making the multilateral negotiations under the Doha Round at the WTO, in an impasse since mid-2008, as confirmed by the WTO ministerial conference of December 2011, its “number one priority” in terms of trade policy. On this, it will also seek to support the WTO's function as a bastion against protectionism. At the same time, the EU will continue to pursue bilateral agreements on trade and investment with Canada, Colombia, Peru, India, Japan, Mercosur, the economies of the ASEAN bloc, with negotiations with Malaysia and Singapore well underway, and will continue to extend its trade relations with its strategic partners (United States, China, Russia, et al). The Danish Presidency will also seek to maintain the EU's approach to sustainable development and the fight against poverty when it re-negotiates the regulation on the system of generalised tariff preferences with a range of developing countries, on the basis of a proposal submitted by the Commission in May 2011.
The Foreign Affairs Council will devote two of its sessions under the Danish Presidency to trade policy: those of 16 March and 31 May. (EH/transl.fl)