11/07/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 9 July the European Commission said that the first round of technical level talks for an EU-Australia free trade agreement, which took place in Brussels from 2 to 6 July, had enabled negotiation groups to be set up and work to be organised. Initial in-depth discussions were also launched on nearly all the chapters covered, the Commission stated. The publication of an initial progress report and a series of EU negotiation texts is expected in around 10 days' time, according to EUROPE's sources. The date of the second round of talks has not yet been set. The Commission and Australian administration officially launched these talks on 18 June, following authorisation being granted to the Commission by the EU Council of Ministers on 22 May (see EUROPE 12043). (EH)