Press Release: Council adopts Regulation promoting co-operation and commercial relations with industrialised countries

Under the Regulation, the Commission will be able to implement projects in the context of the New Transatlantic Agenda with the US and other co-operation projects with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Japan. In particular the establishment of EU centres in the partner countries and the promotion of people-to-people links are envisaged. In addition, the Regulation establishes a legal basis for the continuation of the Commission's trade promotion programmes with Japan, notably the long-standing flagship 'Executive Training Programme' in Japan and the 'EU Gateway to Japan' export promotion campaign.Commissioner Patten said: 'The Regulation fills a major gap in the European Union's external relations legislation. Due to the lack of a legal framework to support the implementation of co-operation projects we have not been able to respond to the growing need for closer cooperation with some of our closest partners. This situation has now been remedied and allows us to engage in a range of new fields, going beyond traditional activities in relations between States'.