On Friday 20 March, the European Commission sent the EU Council a “recommendation for a decision” on a negotiating mandate granted to it by the EU transport ministers in June 2016 (see EUROPE 11567/5).
This mandate, valid for four years, was intended to enable it to negotiate a comprehensive air transport agreement between the EU and its Member States on the one hand, and the Member States of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, on the other.
The eighth and final round of negotiations was held in November 2018. The two sides then agreed on the substance of the draft agreement, but agreed to conduct internal consultations, which are still ongoing on the ASEAN side.
“Under the circumstances, it is unlikely that negotiations could be successfully concluded before the expiry of the authorisation conferred by the EU Council Decision of 7 June 2016, i.e. by 7 June 2020”, the Commission states in its recommendation. It therefore invites the EU Council to renew its negotiating mandate “for an unlimited period”.
To view the document: https://bit.ly/2UfW4hW (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)