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EU trade negotiations

EU trade negotiations: Icons represent the four main players in these trade negotiations: Council of the European Union, European Commission, European Parliament and Partner country. Icons for documents and arrows indicate the process.

EU trade negotiations

This infographic outlines:

  • the roles of the main EU institutions in trade negotiations
  • and the steps that need to be completed.  

The roles and steps in this process are the following: 

  1. Council authorises and provides negotiation directives - the European Commission to begin trade negotiations with the partner country 
  2. European Commission informs Council and European Parliament
  3. European Commission consults Council
  4. Agreement is reached on the text that will underpin the trade negotiation
  5. Text is cleaned up and translated into all official languages
  6. European Commission submits formal proposal (and possibly provisional application) for signature and conclusion to the Council
  7. Council adopts the decision on signature (and possibly provisional application) 
  8. Legal and linguistic review of the text is carried out
  9. Council sends the draft decision for conclusion
  10. European Parliament concludes the draft decision
  11. European Union and partner country sign the agreement
  12. Partner country ratifies
  13. If mixed agreement, ratification by member states
  14. Conclusion and entry into force
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Last review: 17 January 2025