Brussels, 03/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - With Tunisia's agreement, the EU published the initial texts of the future deep and comprehensive free trade agreement (DCFTA) on Friday 29 April. This was in accordance with the commitment to transparency for Tunisian and European civil society - both of which are fairly reluctant about the agreement that is currently under negotiation.
The texts are “as proposed by the EU”, according to the European Commission's DG Trade, which published them on its website. They form “a first basis for discussion”, the website states, and “they express the initial position of the EU and will be reviewed throughout the negotiations. Tunisia is entitled to submit an alternative proposal, including partial, to the European Union”, the website continues. The texts were presented to Tunisian experts during the first round of negotiations from 18 to 21 April 2016.
The scope of the DCFTA is wide and ranges from trade in agriculture to that in services and public procurement, covering trade defence measures, the facilitation of trade and the protection of intellectual property rights. There are 11 chapters in total, including some which are not included in the asymmetrical agreement that is currently in force and that this year celebrates its 40th anniversary. The 11 chapters can be consulted on: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=1490. (Original version in French by Fathi B'Chir)