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India-EU deal hits political rocks
14-Mar-2007
A planned free trade deal between the EU and India has run into serious difficulties over whether or not it should include clauses relating to human rights and weapons of mass destruction. But anti-poverty campaigners have also argued that an agreement is undesirable as it could potentially reduce India’s control over its own economy.
Prince at Asean-EU talks
14-Mar-2007
When foreign ministers from the European Union and Southeast Asia gather in the German city of Nuremberg Wednesday, regional security will top the agenda.
EU-ASEAN meeting to chart out road map for deepening ties
13-Mar-2007 IRNA
This week’s meeting between foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to focus on drafting a road map for deepening political and economic relations, including negotiations on a major comprehensive free trade agreement.
EU in dialogue of the deaf with poor countries
8-Mar-2007 IPS
The European Commission and a grouping of countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific are no nearer an agreement on trade liberalisation after their latest effort.
Uganda: Don’t sign deal with EU, MPs tell government
8-Mar-2007 New Vision
MPS and international trade specialists have asked the Ugandan government not to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union because it would harm the economy.
EU-Egypt: European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan adopted
7-Mar-2007 European Commission
The 3rd EU-Egypt Association Council has adopted the EU-Egypt Action Plan under the European Neighbourhood Policy which will set the agenda for the EU-Egypt cooperation for the next 3-5 years. With the adoption of this Action Plan, Egypt and the EU agree to enter into intensified political, security, economic, trade, investment, scientific, technological and cultural relations.
CAN and EU: Negotiations to Start Soon
7-Mar-2007 Prensa Latina
The Community of Andean Nations and the European Union reaffirmed the promise Tuesday to begin negotiations as soon as possible to sign an economic association agreement, the CAN press office reported after meeting on Monday evening.
Light shed on EP Agreements
5-Mar-2007
Issues on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and African-Caribbean-Pacific States were discussed on Wednesday at a one-day seminar held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel.
Gulf expects EU trade deal by June
5-Mar-2007
Gulf Arab states and the European Union are likely to finalise a free trade deal by June, the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council said on Monday.
Israel to attempt upgrade its EU status
5-Mar-2007 EJP
Israel is examining the idea of upgrading its relations with the European Union and gaining the status of Norway and Switzerland, which although not members of the EU have free passage for people, capital and merchandise between them and the rest of the EU countries.
Rights obstacle to EU-India trade pact
4-Mar-2007 FT
Indian objections to the inclusion of a standard “human rights and democracy” clause in a proposed free trade agreement with the European Union have emerged as a serious stumbling block, the Financial Times has learnt.
EU aide worried by calls to drop India WMD clause
2-Mar-2007 Reuters
A senior European Union official expressed concern on Thursday about calls by some EU states to drop a clause on weapons of mass destruction from a trade and investment agreement planned with nuclear-armed India.
Nicaragua’s Ortega asks US, EU to start free trade ’compensation funds’
1-Mar-2007 IHT
"We have explained to the Europeans that if there is no compensation fund, the association (agreement) would have no future," Ortega told a meeting of businesspeople.
Gambia Social Forum condemns EU-EPA negotiations
1-Mar-2007 The Point
The executive members of the Gambia Social Forum have condemned the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) that is being negotiated between the European Union and ECOWAS member states. They say that these proposed free trade agreements would exacerbate the current agricultural crisis that farmers already face, increase poverty, and violate human rights.
Pakistan may lose EU market as FTA rejected
1-Mar-2007 The News
The 25-country European Union - the biggest market for Pakistani products - is likely to be closed down for Pakistan, as the EU refused to sign a free trade agreement (FTA), arguing that the size of Pakistan’s economy is not enough for such a trade deal, a senior government official told The News.
European-Gulf FTA talks falter anew
28-Feb-2007 KUNA
European-Gulf negotiations on a joint free trade agreement have faltered anew due to fresh European economic preconditions for the signing, an Omani representative said Wednesday.
’There is still a lot to be done,’ EU’s Ferrero-Waldner tells Post
28-Feb-2007 Jerusalem Post
Despite its commitments under the Association Agreement and the European Neighbourhood Policy, the EU commissioner for external relations said, Israel "has not yet made up its mind how to work with us."
Mexican, EU legislators seek to improve trade agreement
28-Feb-2007 People’s Daily
Legislators from Mexico and the European Union (EU) met on Tuesday to discuss improving the free trade agreement signed in 2000.
UNICE strategy on an EU approach to free trade agreements
27-Feb-2007 Business Europe
Past EU bilateral and regional agreements have been strongly influenced by political concerns. The new generation of FTAs must be based on economic criteria: where the EU’s current and future markets lie.
Gulf states must open markets, EU’s Mandelson says
26-Feb-2007 Bloomberg
The EU has agreed to reduce import tariffs on aluminum and petrochemicals from the Gulf to zero in an attempt to conclude their FTA negotiations. In return, the EU wants the limit on foreigners owning majority stakes in Gulf companies ended.