24/07/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 24 July, the European Commission stated that the first round of technical level negotiations for an EU-New Zealand free trade agreement, held in Brussels on 16-20 July, started initial substantive discussions on nearly all the chapters covered. The next session of talks will be held in New Zealand in the autumn. The publication of an initial progress report and of a series of EU negotiation texts is expected within around ten days. The Commission and Australian administration stared these talks on 21 June (see EUROPE 12046), after the approval given to the Commission by the EU Council of Ministers on 22 May. On 25 May, the Council agreed to publish the negotiation mandate. (EH)