The informal meeting of the European Union Trade Ministers will take place on 24-25 March 2015. The meeting will be chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia Mr Edgars Rinkēvičs. The meeting will bring together Trade Ministers of all European Union Member States and the European Commissioner for Trade Ms Cecilia Malmström. Mr Roberto Azevêdo, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, will join the ministers for a working dinner discussion on 24 March.

The aim of the meeting is to engage in a constructive discussion on external trade policy – one of the top priorities of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Ministers will have an opportunity to discuss issues of multilateral trading system, focusing on the advancement of the post-Bali work program, taking into account the upcoming 10th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in December.

Ministers will also discuss the European Union trade and investment policy with particular focus on current and potential benefits from existing and future free trade agreements. This discussion will provide an opportunity for the Ministers to contribute to the European Commission’s communication on an updated strategy for the European Union's trade policy, expected in the autumn of 2015.

Ministers will discuss the progress of the negotiations of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement with emphasis on a more efficient engagement with the society and the means of advancement for addressing investment protection and investor-state dispute settlements.

The informal meeting of the EU Trade Ministers usually takes place once during the Presidency and is a good opportunity to have constructive discussion at informal setting.

On 25 March watch live here:

08:20 - 09:15
Doorstep by Mr Edgars Rinkēvičs, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia
Arrivals/doorsteps by EU Trade Ministers; handshakes
Doorstep by Ms Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Trade
Tour-de-table before the meeting

13:00 - 13:15
Family Photo

15:00 - 15:30
Press conference participating Edgars Rinkēvičs and Cecilia Malmström