Approved by the European Parliament at its January plenary session (see EUROPE 12640/15), the Regulation on the exercise of the Union’s rights in applying and enforcing international trade rules enters into force this Saturday 13 February, following its publication in the Official Journal of the EU on 10 February.
It now allows services and intellectual property rights to be included in the scope of EU trade policy measures.
For Denis Redonnet,Chief Trade Enforcement Officer (CTEO) at the European Commission, this is “a successful step to ensure a better defence of the EU’s interests when it is the victim of unjustified damage”.
To go even further in terms of trade policy implementation instruments, the Commission is also due to publish a proposal on compliance with sustainable development chapters in trade agreements by the end of the year. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)