Foreign Affairs Council, 27/11/2015, 27 November 2015

Main results

Nairobi conference 

The Council discussed preparations for the 10th World Trade Organisation ministerial conference, to be held in Nairobi from 15 to 18 December 2015. 

It discussed the EU's strategy for the conference, assessed the overall balance between the main elements in discussion and considered priorities for work after Nairobi.

A lot of work remains to finalise preparations for the ministerial conference, so that texts are ready for a political decision in Nairobi. We must therefore focus our efforts to advance preparations in Geneva. Jean Asselborn, minister for foreign and European affairs of Luxembourg and president of the Council

The Council will meet in Nairobi on 15 December to prepare for the conference in greater depth. 

Bilateral negotiations

The Council reviewed a number of ongoing bilateral free trade negotiations, including the 'transatlantic trade and investment partnership' (TTIP) with the United States. 

"An ambitious and balanced agreement during the Obama administration remains our goal", Mr Asselborn said. "However, we don't want a deal at any price but a global and good agreement that won't give away European standards." 

The Council assessed the prospects for talks on a free trade agreement with Mercosur, South America's largest trading bloc, as well as various negotiations underway with the countries of Asia. Amongst these, it focused on free trade talks with Japan and with members of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.