Trade: Commissioner Hogan announces new transparency package

Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan announced his intention to further step up the European Commission’s transparency commitments by, among others, systematically reporting on the work of all committees established under EU trade agreements. Speaking to civil society representatives in Brussels yesterday, Commissioner Hogan said: “The EU is already the world’s most transparent public authority when it comes to trade policy, and we are keen to do even more. This is why I am proud to announce a new set of commitments to step up our transparency efforts. This will further strengthen our global leadership position in relation to shaping a transparent and inclusive trade policy.” The new package of transparency measures includes also the publication of the Commission’s decision authorising Member States to conduct bilateral investment negotiations, non-business sensitive summary records from the meetings of the Trade Defence Instruments Committee and Commission recommendations for negotiating directives, not only for preferential trade agreements, as this is already the case, but also for non-preferential ones. The commitments that fall under the transparency package will come into effect as of today and will apply to the relevant documents from this day forward. A press release with more information is available online.