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EU seeks China investment accord as first step to free trade deal

Agence France-PresseMay 23, 2013 19:32
The EU wants to negotiate an investment protection accord as a first step towards a wider Free Trade Agreement with China, one of its biggest trading partners despite a series of tit-for-tat disputes, EU officials said Thursday. "We want to see this as a first step towards" an FTA, one EU official said, asking not to be named. "It is an important step."

EU ready for talks on China investment accord

Agence France-PresseMay 23, 2013 07:15
The European Commission announced on Thursday it was ready to open negotiations with China, one of the EU's most important trading partners, on an investment protection accord. The announcement comes in the midst of a series of tit-for-tat trade disputes between Brussels and Beijing and as the EU begins talks with Washington on what could be the largest ever Free Trade Agreement.

Exclusive: EU wants to exclude utilities from U.S. trade talks

May 21, 2013 11:16
By Ethan Bilby BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union wants to exclude much of the utility sector from a prospective EU-U.S. free trade agreement in order to protect government controlled infrastructure, the latest draft of the EU's mandate for the negotiations showed on Tuesday.

EU welcomes Hollande's commitment to Europe

Agence France-PresseMay 17, 2013 11:16
The European Commission welcomed Friday French President Francois Hollande's "deep commitment" to Europe and looked forward to seeing promised proposals to boost the flagging EU. "We hail the deep committment of France and the French authorities to Europe," a European Commission spokesman said of Hollande's comments Thursday that he would take the initiative to end Europe's "lethargy" and promote a closer political union within two years.

EU agrees extra 2013 budget, with caveats

Agence France-PresseMay 14, 2013 12:31
EU finance ministers agreed Tuesday to add 7.3 billion euros to the bloc's 2013 budget, a hotly contested move which was crucially tied to a wider accord on its 2014-20 spending plans. Ministers "reached a political agreement" on amending the budget, adding the first tranche of what could be a total 11.2 billion euros to cover shortfalls in member state commitments. This money would be focused on "measures to support economic growth, create jobs and tackle unemployment, especially among youth," a statement said.

Canada loses WTO appeal in renewable energy case, EU says

May 8, 2013 14:37
BRUSSELS/GENEVA (Reuters) - Canada has lost an appeal at the World Trade Organization in a landmark case over incentives offered to local companies, the European Union said on Monday, ahead of the official publication of the appeal decision. Japan and the European Union brought the case over a scheme intended to promote renewable energy in the province of Ontario. They said the incentives were illegal because they discriminated against foreign firms, a complaint that was upheld by a WTO adjudication panel in December 2012.

EU in crunch talks on budget gap

Agence France-PresseMay 6, 2013 11:31
Leading EU officials meet later Monday to try and break a deadlock on the bloc's budget for the rest of the decade with a summit of feuding national leaders looming on May 22. The head of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, European Parliament head Martin Schulz and current chair for EU governments, Irish premier Enda Kenny will meet from 1630 GMT, although no decisions are expected to emerge from the talks.

EU-Canada trade talks stalled, overshadowed by U.S.

April 22, 2013 10:45
By Robin Emmott and David Ljunggren BRUSSELS/OTTAWA (Reuters) - Talks to wrap up a multi-billion-dollar free trade deal between Canada and Europe have stalled, diplomats said, raising concerns the agreement could be put on hold as Brussels switches its attention to a much bigger pact with the United States.

France threatens to block start of EU/U.S. free trade talks

April 18, 2013 15:16
By Philip Blenkinsop DUBLIN (Reuters) - France said on Thursday it would block proposed negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States unless cultural sectors, such as television and radio, were excluded from the talks. Trade ministers held an unprecedented informal meeting in Dublin on Thursday on the negotiations, which the Commission and most member states want to launch by the end of June. The talks are likely to last two years.

ICCI, EU dialogue for enhancing EU-Pak Trade Ties

April 12, 2013 16:49
Pakistan has unique geographical and strategic geo-political location and considered to be the hub of trade in South Asia, therefore, EU countries should also consider Pakistan for enhancing trade and investment. These remarks were made by Mr.Zafar Bakhtawari, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) while addressing at a dinner hosted by ICCI in honour of EU Ambassadors designated in Pakistan. Mr.Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, Head of the Delegation and Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan, Mr.Petros Mavroidis, Ambassador of Greece, Ambassador of France, Au
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