Opinion 2/15 on the scope of EU external trade policy: Some background information before next week’s hearing

On 13-14 September 2016 the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) held its hearings for Opinion 2/15, which concerned the EU’s competence to conclude a new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Singapore, in a rare sitting of the Full Court of CJEU judges.

This blogpost provided a brief overview of some of the relevant issues that would most probably play a role during the hearings. The first part provided some context on the EU’s trade policy. The second part focused on the main issues concerning the EU´s competence to conclude FTAs. The final section discusses some broader implications that Opinion 2/15 might have – in particular for EU/UK trade relations after Brexit, and the controversial proposed EU/US trade deal (TTIP).

• Primary Source

ESO: Singapore: The Commission to request a Court of Justice Opinion on the trade deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-singapore-the-commission-to-request-a-court-of-justice-opinion-on-the-trade-deal/

ESO: Background information: European Commission proposes signature and conclusion of EU-Canada trade deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-commission-proposes-signature-and-conclusion-of-eu-canada-trade-deal/

Blog: EU Law Radar: Case A-2/15, The EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement – a mixed agreement? http://eulawradar.com/case-a-215-the-eu-singapore-free-trade-agreement-a-mixed-agreement/

Blog: EU Law Analysis, 04.10.16: The Future of EU External Trade Policy - Opinion 2/15: Report from the Hearing http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/the-future-of-eu-external-trade-policy.html

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