Over the past decades, the role of the European Parliament in international trade agreements has continuously increased. The controversial debates surrounding trade agreements like ACTA, TTIP, and CETA have shown that it is important to involve the European Parliament (and national parliaments) early in the process. The European Parliament and, most likely, also the EU’s national parliaments will also have to approve any possible agreement with the United Kingdom about its future (trade) relationship with the EU after Brexit. This Policy Paper highlights the foundational legal provisions and rules in the EU Treaties for concluding international trade agreements between the EU and third countries. After a brief overview of the legal basis for trade agreements the focus of the analysis is on the participation rights of the European Parliament.
Dr. Valentin Kreilinger formally worked for the Jacques Delors Centre.
Sophia Becker is a former Parliamentary assistant to Norbert Röttgen and Affiliate Policy Fellow at the Jacques Delors Centre.