Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the World Trade Organization on adding the Agreement on Electronic Commerce into the Agreeme...

EUROPEAN COMMISSION Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION Brussels, 6.2.2025 COM(2025) 33 final 2025/0015 (NLE) establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the World Trade Organization on adding the Agreement on Electronic Commerce into the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 1. SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PROPOSAL This proposal concerns the Council decision establishing the position to be taken on the Union's behalf at the World Trade Organization (‘WTO’) in connection with the envisaged adoption of a decision on adding the Agreement on Electronic Commerce to Annex 4 to the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization (‘the WTO Agreement’). 2. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 2.1. The Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization The WTO Agreement aims to achieve the objectives mentioned in the preamble to the Agreement. The agreement entered into force on 1 January 1995. The European Union (‘EU’) is a party to the Agreement. 1 All 27 EU Member States are also parties to the Agreement. The WTO may take decisions in accordance with the procedures set out in the WTO Agreement. 2.2. The General Council of the World Trade Organization The General Council is composed of representatives of all Members, meeting regularly. In the intervals between sessions of the Ministerial Conference, it performs the functions of the Ministerial Conference, as well as those assigned to it under the WTO...