The EU trade commissioner, Russia’s economy minister, and Ukraine’s foreign minister met in Brussels to discuss Ukraine’s implementation of its deep and comprehensive free trade deal with the European Union. The meeting was part of an ongoing negotiating process to allay Russian concerns about potential trade losses. It did not yield concrete …
Ukraine, Russia & CIS
OUTLOOK: Autumn 2015 EU trade policy agenda
Welcome back to work, trade folks! Iana Dreyer outlines what’s on the long to-do list of the European Union’s trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström in Brussels.
In brief: Riga Summit – fading hopes of European destiny for Eastern partners
The Riga Eastern Partnership summit to be held on May 21 and 22 is set to dampen hopes of deeper ties of the EU’s most fervently europhile Eastern Partners. We’ve seen the draft conclusions of the event. Extensive details with BNE Intellinews, selected take-aways below.
Comment: Labour mobility – EU neighbourhood policy’s new approach wrong-footed
Ahead of important EU meetings this week, namely the Riga Summit with Eastern partners and a new round of trade talks with Morocco, here a long-read on why one of the cornerstones of the EU’s neighbourhood policy overhaul – to limit migration – is flawed economically, politically, and morally. The text explains why the EU must be much …
Perspective: Ukraine & EU DCFTA talks with Russia could peter out
The EU-Ukraine summit of 27 April 2015 in Kyiv is set to be reality-check for the bilateral relationship. This meeting takes place as Ukraine is on the brink of bankruptcy and there are signs that Russia could step up military activity in Eastern Ukraine this summer. The EU is unhappy with the pace of …
In brief: Very limited progress in sight in trilateral trade talks over Ukraine DCFTA
Updated. This week, trilateral talks involving Ukraine, the EU and Russia over Ukraine’s implementation of the trade pillar (DCFTA) of its Association Agreement with the EU – the deal that triggered the Ukraine crisis – have shown very limited signs of progress. At the very least, they have failed to satisfy the Russian government.
Of paper and fertilisers: moving from politics to law in EU Russia trade disputes
A fourth dispute settlement panel within less than two years to rule on a case between the EU and Russia will soon be established at the World Trade Organization. Is the rising number of trade cases brought by Brussels against Moscow in Geneva the continuation of trade war by other means in a bilateral relationship …
Blog: Malmström meets Russian economy minister Ulyukaev
In brief: EU requests panel on Russian import duties in WTO
The EU requested today the establishment of a dispute settlement panel at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva concerning Russia’s import duties on a variety of industrial products, notably paper products, refrigerators and palm oil. Brussels has launched consultations in Geneva on the matter last autumn.
In brief: Minsk deal offers prospect of trade talks as new EU sanctions enacted
Updated on 13 Feb. The declaration issued by the German and French governments following the East Ukraine ceasefire deal sealed last night between the heads of state or government of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France contains a call to continue negotiations on gas trade between Russia and Ukraine, as well as language encouraging …
