Brussels, 7 March 2010 - The Commission today took the first step to update the way decisions on trade policy are adopted in the EU.

This follows changes brought about by the Lisbon Treaty and the adoption of new legislation governing EU decision-making which entered into force on 1 March (the comitology regulation).

The Commission's proposal will need to be adopted by the Council and the European Parliament. Once adopted, it will increase transparency in a broad range of legislation, running from the anti-dumping regulation and other trade defence instruments to the Generalised System of Preferences which gives improved market access to developing countries.

Today's proposal is the first of two steps. A second legislative proposal, to be made before the summer, will, when adopted, complete the exercise of bringing trade legislation in line with the Lisbon Treaty.

For more information, see the memo and the proposal