COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2025/798

of 14 April 2025

on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement on Digital Trade between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(4), first subparagraph, in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 27 June 2023, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with the Republic of Singapore for an agreement on digital trade disciplines. The Commission has negotiated, on behalf of the Union, the Agreement on Digital Trade between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore (the ‘Agreement’).

(2) The Agreement is a modern, self-standing agreement that will complement the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore (1), with ambitious and binding commitments on digital trade. The Agreement will enhance consumer protection online, provide legal certainty for businesses, ensure trusted data flows and address unjustified barriers to digital trade, in line with the Union’s digital trade policy that aims to contribute to the Union’s digital transformation and its economic security.

(3) Therefore, the Agreement should be signed.

(4) The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted in accordance with Article 42(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) and delivered an opinion on 21 March 2025,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The signing of the Agreement on Digital Trade between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore (3) is hereby authorised on behalf of the Union, subject to the conclusion of the said Agreement.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Luxembourg, 14 April 2025.

For the Council

The President

K. KALLAS

(1)

OJ L 294, 14.11.2019, p. 3

, ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2019/1875/oj

(2) Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC (

OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 39

, ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/1725/oj

(3) The text of the Agreement will be published together with the decision on its conclusion.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/798/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)