24/04/2018 (Agence Europe) – During a debate with the economic policy committee of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the principal local associations of the EU to discuss the local and regional challenges of EU trade agreements, their transparency and democratic legitimacy, the European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström, invited the CoR to become an observer at the consultative group on EU trade agreements, set in place by the European Commission at the end of 2017 to increase the transparency and inclusivity of trade policy (see EUROPE 11953). The chair of the committee, Michel Delebarre (PES, France), called for compulsory local impact assessments for free-trade agreements. Although they welcomed the Commission's decision to publish all its draft negotiating mandates, the members of the CoR called for increased involvement of the regional stakeholders in the debate. (EH)