During the plenary session (11-14 February 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs decide whether to approve the free trade and investment protection agreements between the EU and Singapore, which will remove virtually all tariffs between the two parties within five years and allow for free trade in services, protect unique European products, and open up the Singaporean procurement market to EU companies.

EU-Singapore Partnership Agreement: extracts from the joint debate (12/02)

SOUNDBITE (English), David MARTIN (S&amp;D, UK), Rapporteur, What is not to like about this free trade agreement? It builds on Canada and Japan and sends a message that the EU is committed to a rules based trading system. While Donald Trump wants to build walls to separate nations, we are killing them down, keeping fair and free trade alive.  

SOUNDBITE (English), David MARTIN (S&amp;D, UK), Rapporteur, In economic terms this clearly is a win-win trade deal. But in addition to the trade benefits, I would also argue, this agreement clearly reflects EU values and positions us both by this Parliament in very many of our resolutions. 

SOUNDBITE (English), David MARTIN (S&amp;D, UK), Rapporteur, Moving on to the investment protection agreement, I believe this is the most progressive investment agreement we have so far negotiated and should be a model to build on for future trade agreements. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&#214;M, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, The benefits of of the trade agreement are many. Tariffs on bilateral trade will be removed. Non tariff barriers on EU exports on cars, electronics, renewables will do away with. Access to service, procurement markets will be improved. And all this will create opportunities for businesses and individuals on both sides. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&Ouml;M, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, The agreement further contains a comprehensive trade and sustainable development chapter that includes obligation in relation to international conventions on workers rights and the environment, covers areas like biodiversity, eco-labelling and corporate and social responsibility and gives a strong role to EU and Singapore civil society groups in making sure that these commitments are put into practice. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&Ouml;M, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, We need to see sustained efforts in this respect, as of enter into force of the agreement. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Se&#225;n KELLY (EPP, IE), Many areas would benefit. I know that in Ireland, the Irish agricultural sector would benefit hugely. And that will be very important to them as they are very concerned with what might happen to their exports to the United Kingdom, post Brexit. 

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Alessia Maria MOSCA (S&amp;D, IT), From the industrial sector to the agricultural sector, we do not have any competition issues relating to Singapore. Therefore there should be no doubt relating to the Singapore Agreement. This is a good agreement for Europe. Our products should go out to the rest of the world, they are appreciated by the rest of the world. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), As Britain stands just 45 days away from leaving the European Union, I'm reminded once again of all the disingenuous, untruesome, false promises pedaled by Brexiters in the leave campaign. One of those was that Britain needed to leave the European Union, in order to strike optimal trade deals with the commonwealth and the Anglosphere countries that the EU was neither interested in nor capable of concluding. 

<p>SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Far from needing to leave the EU, to improve trading links with the commonwealth, it seems patently obvious that following the 29th of March, the EU 27 will enjoy far better opportunities to trade with the commonwealth, than the UK will for many years to come. </p>

SOUNDBITE (German), Reinhard B&#220;TIKOFER (Greens/EFA, DE), This agreement demonstrates that Europe wants to have a strengthened cooperation with ASEAN on our points of interest and common values. We need strategic partnerships and also with ASEAN we want to have a strategic partnership to ensure security and development in the Indo-Pacific area.

EU-Singapore Partnership Agreement: extracts from the joint debate (12/02)

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