No fast track for EU-Singapore trade deal: EU court adviser

Luxembourg

A TOP adviser to the European Court of Justice said on Wednesday that a trade agreement between Singapore and the European Union cannot be fast-tracked into force, in a legal opinion that is likely to slow down ratification of other, broader trade deals.

Advocate-General Eleanor Sharpston found that certain parts of the deal, notably on trade in air and maritime transport and on labour and environmental standards, required the scrutiny of national parliaments - a process that can take several years.