The Commission welcomes Council green light for EU-Singapore Trade and Investment Agreements

Today, EU Member States² in the Council authorised the signature and conclusion of the trade and investment agreements between the EU and Singapore.

Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström³ said: "I am very pleased that Member States have given their formal backing to these agreements, paving the way for their signature on 19 October. Opening new opportunities for European producers, farmers, service providers and investors is a key priority for this Commission. These deals do precisely that, and more - Singapore is an important gateway to the whole Asia-Pacific area, and it is vital that our companies can have a foothold there. These agreements also promote sustainable development, as they include ambitious commitments on the protection of the environment and labour rights and uphold the right to regulate. They are yet another example of the EU's determination to work with like-minded countries to uphold rules-based international trade."

Today's decision follows the proposal made in April of this year by the European Commission¹. EU and Singapore leaders will sign the agreements on 19 October in Brussels, on the margins of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). After signature, the European Parliament⁴ will vote on the agreements. Once approved by the European Parliament, the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement is expected to enter into force in 2019, before the end of the current mandate of the European Commission. The EU-Singapore Investment Protection Agreement will only enter into force following its ratification at EU Member States' level.

For more information

EU-Singapore Trade Agreement - dedicated website

STATEMENT/18/6121

• 1. 

  The European Commission is the executive body of the EU and runs its day-to-day business. It is made up of the College of Commissioners, 27 European Commissioners, one for each member state, who are each responsible for one or several policy areas. In addition, the 'Commission' also refers to the entire administrative body that supports the Commissioners, consisting of the Directorates-General and the Services.
   
• 2. 

  Momenteel zijn 27 landen lid van de Europese Unie. De meest recente uitbreiding van de Unie vond plaats op 1 juli 2013, met de toetreding van Kroatië. Er wordt verder over uitbreiding gesproken met verschillende landen in Oost-Europa. Het Verenigd Koninkrijk is sinds 31 januari 2020 middernacht geen lid meer van de Europese Unie. Dat was het eerste land dat de EU verliet.
   
• 3. 

  Cecilia Malmström (1968) is the European Commissioner for trade in the Juncker Commission on behalf of Sweden. Malmström is a member of the Liberals (L), which is aligned with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE). Malmström was a member of the European Parliament and minister for EU Affairs prior to her posting in the Commission.
   
• 4. 

  The European Parliament is the EU's law-making body. It is directly elected by EU voters every 5 years.
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  The Parliament has 3 main roles:
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