Press Release: EU Commission welcomes European Parliament backing for free trade deal with South Korea

EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht, welcomed the European Parliament's support for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the European Union (EU) and South Korea, February 2011. An overwhelming majority of MEPs voted for the deal meaning that from 1st July 2011 businesses from both sides will be able to trade more freely and easily than ever before. This is the first time that the European Parliament has endorsed a trade agreement and adopted accompanying trade legislation under the Lisbon Treaty procedures.

• Primary Source

European Parliament: Press Release, 17.2.11: EU-South Korea free trade agreement passes final hurdle in Parliament http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/content/20110216IPR13769/html/EU-South-Korea-free-trade-agreement-passes-final-hurdle-in-Parliament

BBC News, 17.2.11: EU-South Korea trade deal backed by European Parliament http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12493775

European Commission: DG Trade: Bilateral relations: South Korea http://ec.europa.eu/trade/creating-opportunities/bilateral-relations/countries/korea/

Wikipedia: European Union – Korea Free Trade Agreement http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_%E2%80%93_Korea_Free_Trade_Agreement

BBC News, 5.5.11: South Korea in final approval of EU trade deal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13289640

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