06/05/2019 (Agence Europe) – The EU's trade agreements with Vietnam - a free trade agreement and an investment protection agreement (IPA) - could be validated by the Council of the EU as early as the end of June, a European source confirmed. After translation, the IPA is now at the review stage by the national delegations to the Council of the EU, the final stage of legal scrubbing. The next Trade Council, announced for Monday 27 May, could confirm these dates and decide on the signing of the two agreements. The European Parliament will then have to ratify the agreement; the IPA will also have to be ratified by the national parliaments of the Member States. The EFA will eliminate 99% of all tariffs, reduce non-tariff barriers, ensure the protection of geographical indications (GIs) and open markets for services and public procurement to European operators (see EUROPE 12050/20). (HD)