Brussels, 03/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - In addition to the conclusion of the EU-South Korea free trade agreement, the Swedish Presidency has made the Doha Round its priority in Trade. As a fervent supporter of free trade, the Swedish government wants to provide fresh impetus to the WTO talks on liberalising world trade, which is beginning to show solid signs of recovery (see EUROPE 9931). Meeting on 3 July, Swedish Trade Minister Ewa Björling and Commissioner Catherine Ashton highlighted the need, faced with the current crisis, for a multilateral agreement, now hoped for in 2010, realising perfectly well that the chances of success depend on compromises - from the United States and India on the agriculture chapter, and between developed and emerging economies on sectoral agreements in industry. Ashton and Björling also undertook to take forward talks on bilateral free trade agreements (ASEAN, India, Central America, the Andean Community and the Gulf Cooperation Council) and for Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) countries. Promoting free trade and tackling protectionism as a response to the crisis will, of course, be a main concern of the Presidency, which also wants to promote a market access strategy and to promote trade in green and environmental technology goods and services. (E.H./transl.rt)