14/09/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 14 September, the EU member states decided by common accord to publish the Council's directives, given to the European Commission on 29 November 2012, for negotiating the EU-Japan free trade agreement – which was concluded by an agreement in principle between the EU authorities and Japanese government on 6 July 2017 (see EUROPE 11827). Work is still ongoing between the Commission and Japanese authorities to settle the outstanding issues (such as the chapter on investment and investment protection) in order to finalise the legal text for signature, ratification and formal conclusion. The declassified negotiation guidelines can be consulted at: https://goo.gl/nNKd96 . (EH)