The European Commission and the High Representative welcome the Council’s decision authorising them to enter into negotiations with each of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with the aim of concluding bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs). The aim of the SPAs is […]
EU and UAE launch free trade talks
The European Union and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have formally launched negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement, opening the possibility of the first comprehensive EU trade deal in the Gulf region. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, first agreed to […]
EU and UK conclude technical negotiations for a future competition cooperation agreement
Today, the European Commission and the UK finalised the technical discussions on a competition cooperation agreement between the EU and the UK. The competition cooperation agreement will be a ‘supplementing agreement’ to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (‘TCA’), which foresees the possibility to enter into a separate agreement on competition cooperation. The future competition […]
EU and Switzerland launch negotiations to deepen bilateral relations
President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd launched the negotiations on a broad package of measures to deepen and expand the EU-Switzerland relationship. This follows the adoption of the Swiss and EU negotiating mandates on 8 and 12 March 2024, respectively. The two mandates authorise the Commission and Switzerland to […]
EU-UK talks: MEPs display unwavering support for the EU position
Parliament regrets that differences remain substantial, with little time left to reach an agreement on the future EU-UK relationship. In a report adopted by a large majority on Thursday, Parliament takes stock of the EU-UK negotiations on a new partnership so far and acknowledges the negotiating parties’ call to intensify talks in July. They regret […]