The EU Council decided on Monday 14 October that, following the March 2019 elections (see EUROPE 12222/40), it was now “appropriate for the EU to take steps to broaden its relations with Thailand, in particular on issues relating to human rights, fundamental freedoms and democratic pluralism, by preparing to sign the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in due time”.
The EU had undertaken not to sign such an agreement until the country had a democratically elected government in place.
In its conclusions, the EU Council also considers that “it is important to take steps to resume negotiations on an ambitious and comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA)”.
Negotiations for such an agreement were launched in March 2013. Trade between the EU and Thailand amounted to €38 billion in 2018 and the EU is Thailand's third largest export market. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)