Abstract The paper analyses how the EU can strengthen its free trade policy amid growing geopolitical and economic pressures. Although the EU maintains a broad network of FTAs, rising competition from major powers and the weakened WTO system make faster and more flexible agreements necessary. The author argues for streamlining FTAs, separating core trade provisions from broader political or investment issues, and using modular or interim agreements to accelerate adoption. Externally, the EU must offer credible market-access incentives while addressing new demands, including sustainability and potential investment commitments. Internally, slow and complex approval procedures—especially for mixed agreements requiring all Member States’ ratification—remain a major constraint. Improved domestic acceptance through transparent impact assessments and measures to ease structural adjustments is essential. Overall, greater agility and clearer internal support mechanisms are key to preserving the EU’s effectiveness in trade policy.
Peter-Tobias Stoll (Thu,) studied this question.