Brussels, 04/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - At the end of the sixth session of negotiations for a bilateral free-trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and South Korea, the European Commission reported substantial progress in the discussions. Meeting in Seoul from 28 January to 1 February, the European and South Korean negotiators found common ground on the two major questions of services and intellectual property. The parties also reached a compromise agreement on other major aspects of the FTA: sustainable development (employment law and environment), competition, trade defence instruments, the transparency of regulations and conflict settlement. According to a Community source, the parties are now close to agreement on nearly 70% of the points covered by the FTA. However, this level of progress was only possible by putting to one side the three most controversial dossiers - the general level of elimination of customs duty, non-tariff barriers in the automotive sector and the rules of origin - which will be of decisive importance for concluding the FTA (see EUROPE 9569). These issues will be central to the forthcoming session of talks, to be held in Brussels in April. (E.H.)