EU-Singapore trade and investment deals pass major milestone [International Agreements in Progress]

Written by Krisztina Binder, graphics: Giulio Sabbati (2nd edition, updated on 29.04.2019),

Following the signature of the EU-Singapore trade and investment agreements on 19 October 2018, the European Parliament gave its consent on 13 February 2019 to conclude both agreements. These deals were created by dividing the initial free trade agreement reached between the EU and Singapore in 2014, but not ratified, into two separate instruments: a trade agreement and an investment protection agreement.

The trade agreement will enter into force with the finalisation of Singapore’s internal administrative procedures and the conclusion of the final formalities by the EU and Singapore. In contrast, the investment protection agreement, which falls under the shared competence of the EU and its Member States, needs to be ratified by the EU Member States also, following their national procedures.

Singapore will be the first member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to conclude bilateral trade and investment agreements with the EU. The EU views bilateral agreements with ASEAN members as steps towards achieving the final objective of a region-to-region trade and investment agreement with ASEAN. Therefore, the EU‑Singapore agreements are considered a reference as regards the EU’s ambition to conclude trade and investment agreements with other ASEAN members.

Read the complete briefing on ‘EU-Singapore trade and investment deals pass major milestone‘ on the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Previous edition: ‘EU-Singapore trade and investment agreements close in on conclusion‘.

EU-Singapore trade in goods and services, 2005-2017

Singapore in numbers, 2018