Brussels, 08/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - The EU and Singapore are to start negotiations in the coming weeks with a view to the conclusion of a bilateral co-operation agreement, Commissioner Pascal Lamy announced during his current trip to Asia. This agreement, which will cover such fields as trade, the protection of intellectual property and investments, scientific research, education and culture, will also help pave the way for negotiations for a free-trade agreement with ASEAN (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.9). Mr Lamy has not ruled out the possibility that improved access to the European market in certain fields may also be a subject of the negotiations: "If Singapore feels there are areas we should discuss, we are absolutely willing to look at that", he said.
Up to now, Thailand and Singapore have been the only ASEAN countries with which the EU hopes to negotiate a bilateral co-operation agreement. Talks will start once the Council of Ministers has drawn up and approved the Commission's negotiation mandate. "It's a question of weeks, rather than months", said Commissioner Lamy.