Conclusions on the Recommendations to open Negotiations
with Countries of ASEAN, India and South Korea

2795th GENERAL AFFAIRS Council meeting

Luxembourg, 23 April 2007

PDF version: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/gena/93765.pdf

The Council and the Representatives of the Member States meeting within the Council, adopted the following conclusions:

"1. The Council reaffirms that the successful conclusion of the Doha Round remains the EU’s
first priority in the field of trade policy given that the multilateral trade system provides for
the most effective removal of trade barriers while improving the inclusion of developing
countries in the world trade system.

2. Welcoming the Commission’s Communication on the recommendations to open negotiations
with the Andean Community, countries of ASEAN, Central America, India and the Republic
of Korea, the Council reaffirms that the EU should aim at a new generation of WTOcompatible
Free Trade Agreements that extend beyond present agreements and build
towards future multilateral negotiations, with the intention to strengthen the multilateral
trading system. The new WTO-compatible Free Trade Agreements with emerging countries
should contribute to improving competitiveness and growth in Europe and globally and
support further integration of partner countries into the international trading system. They
should be ambitious and comprehensive and comprise far reaching liberalisation of trade in
goods and services, and investment. Special attention will be given to the elimination of
non-tariff barriers.

3. The Council supports the Commission’s approach for Free Trade Agreements based on
economic considerations, especially the market potential of possible partner countries, the
current level of trade barriers between them and the EU, and their ongoing or concluded
Free Trade Agreement negotiations with EU competitors. While respecting the priority of
the multilateral trade negotiations, Free Trade Agreements with countries of ASEAN, India
and the Republic of Korea should be taken forward rapidly to improve the external
competitiveness and market access conditions of European industries on these important
markets vis-a-vis global competitors.

4. The Council welcomes and supports the Commission’s analysis and proposals to ensure, in
each case, that these agreements will be part of an overall and coherent framework of EU
relations with each partner. The Council underlines its interest in also achieving a further
strengthening of political ties with ASEAN countries, India and the Republic of Korea
through new Partnership- and Cooperation Agreements or an updating of the existing
Framework Agreements including the EU political clauses. Thus the Council underlines its
interest in moving ahead swiftly with negotiations on new Partnership- and Cooperation
Agreements or updated framework agreements with India and the Republic of Korea, and
invites the Commission to undertake exploratory talks with the countries concerned and to
report back to the Council and to make recommendations as appropriate.

5. Regarding India, the Council underlines the importance it attaches to the ongoing
discussions between the EU and India about issues of common concern in the framework of
the Joint Action Plan, which contribute to the creation of the basis for a future broad
agreement.

6. Regarding the Republic of Korea the Council underlines its interest in a deepening of
relations with the Republic of Korea so as to strengthen political ties through a future broad
agreement. Concerning the Free Trade Agreement negotiations, the Council encourages the
Commission to strive for a removal of existing non-tariff trade barriers by the Korean
government already during the process of negotiations.

7. Regarding ASEAN, the Council warmly welcomes the Enhanced EU-ASEAN-Partnership
confirmed at the 16th EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Nuremberg/Germany on 14/15th
March and expresses its satisfaction with the ongoing intensification of relations including
through the negotiations of Partnership- and Cooperation Agreements with several member
states of ASEAN.. The Council expresses its intention to conclude a Free Trade Agreement
with countries of ASEAN. The conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement will be subject to
the conclusion of Partnership- and Cooperation Agreements, thus creating a coherent
economic and political framework for relations between the EU and ASEAN."