In the 23rd hybrid meeting of the EU Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) under the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which was the first EU DAG meeting after the Civil Society Forum with the Korean counterparts, all participants underlined the importance of the ratification of three fundamental ILO conventions by the Republic of Korea in April 2021. This ratification by the Korean government sends an important message to the other countries of the Asian region, providing a strong incentive for them to ratify the ILO core conventions at an early stage of their engagement in FTA negotiations with the EU.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted on 12 April the 7th meeting of the EU-Korea Civil Society Forum, an online event that gathered civil society representatives to discuss on labour-related issues, including working hours, civil dialogue and the state of play of the implementation of international standards and conventions (ILO). Participants also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the implementation of the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The 10th meeting of the EU Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) under the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA), will take place on 28 May 2026 at the EESC.
Building on the successful joint meeting held in December, this meeting will be organised together with the EU DAGs for Japan and Korea. The aim is to foster synergies, exchange best practices, and discuss cross-cutting issues relevant to all three DAGs.
Members of the three DAGs will exchange with the European Commission's DG TRADE on the state of play of the implementation of the respective TSD Chapters under the FTAs. Further discussions will include TSD in the digital economy, including AI governance and new forms of work, the implementation of ILO Conventions in Singapore, Korea and Japan, as well as the follow up of the Commission's Evaluation of the impact of EU's agreements on key environmental aspects, including the climate
During the meeting, the EU DAG will also exchange views on EU-Singapore relations and recent developments in Singapore, including their priorities, with Ambassador Heng Aik Yeow, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Singapore to the European Union.
Building on the successful meeting held in December, which gathered also the EU DAGs for Korea and Singapore, the format of the meeting will be the same this time. The aim is to foster synergies, exchange best practices, and discuss cross-cutting issues relevant to all three DAGs.
The 13th meeting of the EU Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) under the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), and the first meeting of the 2025–2028 term, took place on 16 December 2025 at the EESC.
The 31st meeting of the EU Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) under the EU-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and the first meeting of the 2025–2028 term, took place on 16 December 2025 at the EESC.
The 9th meeting of the EU Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) under the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and the first meeting of the 2025–2028 term, took place on 16 December 2025 at the EESC.
The 11th EU-Korea Civil Society Forum (CSF) and Workshop took place on 8–9 September 2025 in Brussels. The event opened with a discussion on the benefits of social dialogue in the context of amplified trade diversification.
