The European Commission would like to speed up procedures to implement the Economic partnership with Japan concluded on 8 December last, as soon as possible (see EUROPE 11922). As it stands, the agreement can only be approved by the Council and Parliament.
One Commission source indicated on Monday 11 December that the legal verification exercise of the texts negotiated had begun this week. This exercise is expected to be closed in February 2018. The agreement will then be able to be...