The report of our EIAS Closed Door Expert Roundtable Discussion on EU Perspectives on recent developments in Myanmar is now available. You can download it here.
On 22 June 2022, European Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis presented the Commission’s new approach to Free Trade Agreements (FTA). As one of its main features, the plan seeks to strengthen the binding nature of Sustainable Development provisions and rules within EU FTAs. This is particularly relevant in view of the EU’s FTAs and trade negotiations with ASEAN and its members.
As part of its flagship Green Deal, the European Parliament approved a proposal for a draft regulation on 13 September 2022 which mandates operators to prove that wood, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, cattle, soy, and its derivatives are ‘deforestation-free’ before they enter the EU market. Producing developing countries in Asia and beyond have strongly opposed the EU’s unilateral objectives due to its potential socio-economic consequences. The rather quick passing of the regulation and limited time for consideration of its impact on third countries may actually cause harm to already vulnerable communities.
On the occasion of the Viet Nam Trade Forum 2022 organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Viet
On 26-27 September 2022 the ESSCA School of Management EU*Asia Institute organised a Workshop “Business as Unusual: New Approaches to EU-China Relations” at the ESSCA Campus in Angers and online. A variety of experts on EU-China from both Europe and China participated in the workshop. EIAS Director Lin Goethals gave a presentation on “A post-pandemic re-assessment of EU-China Relations”.