France does not want to delay the launch of negotiations for free trade agreements between the EU and two big Pacific economies, Australia and New Zealand. The member states are expected to give their green light on Tuesday 22 May (see EUROPE 11862) to the launch of these negotiations, but France wants assurances of the agreements' ambition on climate protection and sustainable development.
"On the substance, we have agreed ahead (Ed: of the EU Council of trade ministers, next Tuesday). We very much hope for these negotiations, as French President Emmanuel Macron stated during his recent visit to Australia and when he welcomed New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in May", a French diplomat told EUROPE.
"We have not delayed the process, but wanted the negotiating mandates to take full account of the lessons of the EU-Canada free trade agreement (CETA). We want an ambitious agreement" taking account of the international Climate Agreement concluded in Paris in 2015 and the arrangements on sustainable development, the diplomat said.
During the discussions at the level of the ambassadors of the EU countries (Coreper) on the negotiating mandates, France insisted on an 'essential clause' being taken into account relating to the conformity of all future trade agreements with the Paris Agreement (see EUROPE 12017). (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)