In 2006, the European Commission launched an ambitious plan to conclude a new generation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Asian markets as part of its Global Europe strategy. Today the use of such FTAs is all the more important since negotiations at the WTO are stalled, but also more contested as the state of the global economy remains volatile and uncertain. The objective of this one-day meeting is to take stock of the implementation of the Commission"s FTA strategy and the positions of a sampling of Asian partners, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges from the perspective of government, business and independent observers.

8:45 - Welcome addresses

Dominique David, Executive Vice-President, Ifri

François Brottes, President of the Economic Affairs Committee, Assemblée nationale, France

H.E.M. Michel Ching-Long Lu, Representative of the Taipei Representative Office in France

9:15 - The evolution of “Global Europe” - Analyzing shifts in the EU"s free trade strategy

Vital Moreira, Chairman, International Trade Committee, European Parliament

Mauro Petriccione, Director for Asia and Latin America, DG Trade, European Commission

Patrick Messerlin, Professor of Economics, Sciences Po, Groupe d"économie mondiale

Jan Wouters, Jean Monnet Chair ad personam EU and Global Governance, University of Leuven

Chair: Françoise Nicolas, Director, Ifri Center for Asian Studies

10:45 - Networking/refreshment break

11:00 - Lessons learned from the Korea-EU FTA (followed by Q&A)

H.E.M. Hye Min Lee, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the French Republic (Former Chief Negotiator for the Korea-EU FTA)

11:30 - Observations from concluded and ongoing FTA negotiations
The cases of South Korea and Singapore

Etienne Oudot de Dainville, Assistant Director for Commercial and Investment Policy, Direction générale du Trésor, France

Lay Hwee Yeo, Director, EU Center in Singapore

Raphael Leal-Arcas, Professor, International Economic Law, Queen Mary, University of London

Chair: Françoise Nicolas, Director, Ifri Center for Asian Studies

12:30 - Lunch break

14:00 -The way forward - Challenges and prospects of future agreements
The cases of Japan and Taiwan

Mauro Petriccione, Director for Asia and Latin America, DG Trade, European Commission

Kenji Goto, Deputy Director-General, Economic Affairs Bureau, MOFA, Japan

Chun-fang Hsu, Economic Counselor, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan

Fredrik Erixon, Director, European Center for International Political Economy

Chair: Patrick Messerlin, Professor, Sciences Po, Groupe d"économie mondiale

15:30 - Networking/refreshment break

15:45 - Economic impact of EU-Asia FTAs - consequences for business

Roland Verstappen, Chairman of the International Relations Committee, BUSINESSEUROPE

Erik Bergelin, Director of Trade & Economics, European Automobile Manufacturers" Association

Koshi Noguchi, Vice President - Corporate Government & External Relations Brussels Representative - EU Relations Toshiba of Europe Ltd.

Moonkoo Huh, Head of the Europe Office, Korea International Trade Association

Cosmas Yi-Hou Lu, Managing Director, Barclays Bank PLC, CEO/Taiwan and Branch Manager, Taipei

Chair: Françoise Nicolas, Director, Ifri Center for Asian Studies

17:15 - Concluding remarks by Thierry de Montbrial, Founder and President, Ifri

Contact: John Seaman, Ifri Center for Asian Studies