Containing a motion for a non-legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement on Digital Trade between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore
A-10-2025-0190
Committee on International Trade · Rapporteur: Svenja Hahn
- Voted on · Adopted 572–18–41 · See the decision →
- Full procedure 2025/0009M
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The resolution welcomes the EU-Singapore Digital Trade Agreement, the first stand-alone digital trade deal the EU has concluded, and stresses that it must respect EU data privacy, consumer protection and AI rules.¶¶ It calls on the Commission to ensure implementation safeguards regulatory autonomy, to conduct an ex post evaluation, and to explore further digital trade agreements with other partners.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on International Trade proposes that Parliament adopt a non-legislative resolution welcoming the agreement and setting out conditions for its implementation.¶¶
Key points
- Welcomes the signing of the Digital Trade Agreement between the EU and Singapore on 7 May 2025.¶
- Notes the agreement lays down binding rules on trade in goods and services enabled by electronic means, enhancing bilateral trade relations.¶
- Recalls the agreement should benefit consumers, citizens, workers and SMEs, and that entities in the single market must adhere to EU regulations.¶
- Recalls the agreement preserves policy space for parties to safeguard personal data and privacy, and notes EDPS concerns about legally binding language on data flows.¶¶
- Stresses the agreement facilitates electronic transactions, protects consumers, prohibits forced technology transfer, and reduces administrative burden for SMEs.¶
- Highlights that provisions on unsolicited commercial messages should expand the definition of spam to include all communications and address telemarketing calls.¶
- Stresses implementation must respect EU data privacy, consumer protection and AI regulations, and calls for disciplines to prohibit forced technology transfer of source code.¶
- Welcomes cross-border data flow provisions applying to all sectors, with regulatory policy space for data and privacy protection.¶
- Stresses the need to protect the EU framework on data and digital rights, implementing free data flows in line with EU protection levels.¶
- Acknowledges source code provisions are more advanced, protecting SMEs and start-ups, but stresses the need for regulatory oversight and enforcement of EU law.¶
- Stresses the EU should act as a global standard-setter for rights-based digital governance, and the agreement's strategic importance as a gateway to ASEAN.¶¶
- Calls on the Commission to conduct an ex post evaluation, report to Parliament, and develop a future-proof digital trade policy safeguarding regulatory autonomy.¶¶
Who is affected
- Businesses and SMEs involved in digital trade between the EU and Singapore, benefiting from legal certainty and reduced administrative burden.¶¶
- Consumers and citizens, who gain enhanced protection and trust in the digital marketplace.¶
- EU regulators and supervisors, whose ability to enforce laws like the AI Act must be preserved.¶¶
Legal basis: Article 207 in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a)(v) TFEU¶