ESF has adopted a large number of position papers highlighting the interests of the European services industry with regard to international trade. These papers have been forwarded to the main European interlocutors dealing with international trade policy.

2025

• ESF Contribution to WTO Workshop on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions - Geneva, 15 May 2025 – 15 May 2025
• ESF Position Paper: Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreements (SIFA) in Africa and Market access for services investors – 5 May 2025
• ESF Position Paper on "Services Trade and the Clean Trade and Investment Partnerships (CTIPs)" – 30 April 2025
• Joint Business Coalition letter on the Revision of the Regulation on Foreign Direct Investment Screening – 11 February 2025
• Industry Letter in support of the immediate adoption of the European Cybersecurity Certification Scheme for Cloud Services - EUCS – 11 February 2025

2024

• ESF Position Paper on European service industries priorities on the EU-Philippines FTA – 2 September 2024
• ESF Press Release - ESF welcomes the annoucement of the global Agreement on E-Commerce – 26 July 2024
• ESF joined a Brussels Business Coalition that Urges Ambitious, Open Trade Policy to Boost EU Competitiveness and Prosperity – 15 July 2024
• GSC Joint Statement on OECD STRI Survey and the need for the JSI negotiators to adopt global rules in digital trade – 24 June 2024
• ESF Position Paper on EU Future Trade Policy – 5 June 2024
• ESF Response to Commission Consultation on Revision of Investment Screening – 22 April 2024
• ESF Response to Commission Consultation on Outbound Investment Monitoring – 17 April 2024
• GSC Letter in the Financial Times: "Plea to WTO: Please retain ban on Ecommerce Tariffs" – 5 April 2027
• GSC Statement for March Negotiating Session of JSI on E-Commerce – 7 March 2024
• GSC Press Statement on the Conclusion of MC13 - Abu Dhabi – 2 March 2024
• Global Association Letter Reflects Massive Support for the extension of the WTO Moratorium on E-Commerce (211 Signatories) – 26 February 2024
• Joint Industry Coalition Statement in support of EU-Mercosur FTA – 16 January 2024

2023

• o ESF signed Joint Industry Call for the Conclusions of the EU-Indonesia FTA negotiations (CEPA) – 28 November 2023
• ESF joined a group of 20 Business associations’ letter supporting the conclusion of an ambitious WTO JSI E-Commerce Negotiations – (27 November 2023)
• ESF signed a joint associations letter on the occasion of the 19th Canada-European Union (EU) Leader’s Summit in St. John’s (Call for renewed ambition on the EU-Canada trade relationship). – 24 November 2023
• o ESF & Australian Services Forum (ASR) call to conclude an ambitious EU-Australia FTA – 23 October 2023
• Global Services Coalition Priorities for MC13 – 12 September 2023
• European Services Industry call for the swift conclusion and ratification of the EU-MERCOSUR Trade Agreement – 5 July 2023
• ESF signed joint letter with 18 European businesses associations to the three Presidents of the European Institutions calling on the EU to take all the necessary initiatives to ensure the swift ratification of the EU-Mercosur agreement – 4 July 2023
• o Global Multi association letter to Indonesia on Regulation 190 – 4 April 2023
• ESF Position Paper on EU-Thailand FTA negotiations – 28 March 2023

2022

• ESF call on the draft EU Cybersecurity Certification Scheme for Cloud Services (EUCS) – 1 December 2022
• ESF Second Call on Commission Proposal on Anti-Coercion Instrument – 17 November 2022
• EU-India FTA (ESF Revised Position) – 21 October 2022
• ESF Call to EU and Japan Leaders for adoption of cross-border data flows provisions in EU-Japan EPA – 12 May 2022
• ESF position on Commission Proposal on Anti-Coercion Instrument – 18 March 2022
• GSC Statement on JSI on E-Commerce and Moratorium for MC12 – 26 April 2022
• ESF co-signed EU industry associations letter in support of EU trade agreements – 7 March 2022
• ESF letter on support for an offensive agenda in EU Trade Policy – 25 February 2022

2021

• ESF Position on Revision of EU-Japan EPA Digital Trade Chapter – 20 December 2021
• European Services Forum welcomes the Conclusion of the WTO Services Domestic Regulation negotiations – 2 December 2021
• Global Industry Comments on China Draft Data Transfer Assessment Measures – 1 December 2023
• GSC Statement ahead of MC12 – 24 November 2021
• Global Industry statement on WTO Moratorium on E-Commerce – 19 November 2021
• ESF Position on trade and health: “Don't forget essential services” – 16 November 2021
• ESF Final contribution to DG Trade consultation on TSD chapters – 28 October 2021
• ESF Position on Trade and Climate – 11 October 2021
• EU-Indonesia CEPA - ESF Position on Indonesia – 7 October 2021
• ESF call to WTO members to adopt the Proposal at MC12 to work towards commencing services market access negotiations – 4 October 2021
• Transatlantic industry urges swift agreement on EU-U.S. personal data flows – 17 July 2021
• EU-Mercosur FTA - ESF signs business associations Joint Statement – 29 June 2021
• GSC Joint Statement on WTO Priorities – 24 June 2021
• Global Industry Group to Urge European Parliament to vote in favour of EU-UK Adequacy Decisions – 11 May 2021
• ESF call for the adoption of the Regulation for an International public Procurement Instrument – 23 April 2021
•  EU Canada CETA - ESF signs Business joint letter on CETA implementation – 16 April 2021
• ESF letter to DG Okonjo-Iweala on essential services during pandemic – 12 March 2021
• GSC Statement on JSI on E-Commerce Priorities – 28 January 2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

• Joint Statement by Business Associations worldwide on MC10 in Nairobi – December 2015
• European services industry views on ISDS – May 2015
• GSC Business Delegation to Geneva during TiSA round, joint statement – April 2015
• Joint EU Industry Letter on new China Banking regulation – February 2015
• Joint Industry Statement on financial services regulatory cooperation & market access in TTIP – February 2015
• ESF actions in support of investment protection and ISDS in TTIP – January 2015
• –

2014

• ESF Position Paper on Regulatory Cooperation in TTIP: The case of the services sectors – November 2014
• Business Alliance for TTIP: Joint Statement on regulatory cooperation – 7th TTIP round – September 2014
• EU industry associations call for renewed engagement with India – September 2014
• Global Services Coalition Position Paper on TiSA – September 2014
• ESF Paper on Key Principles in Bilateral Investment Agreements – May 2014
• Joint CSI & ESF Statement: “SERVICES MUST BE A MAJOR COMPONENT OF TTIP” – May 2014
• Global Services Coalition call for an ambitious TiSA to be concluded by 2015 – May 2014
• ESF letter to EU Ministers to pursue ambitious EU-Japan FTA, and EU Business Joint-Statement – May 2014
• BUSINESS Alliance for TTIP Press Release ahead of Fourth Round – 10 March 2014

2013

• ESF signed Joint business statement in view of the upcoming EU-Japan Summit – November 2013
• GSC Communique on the on-going Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) – October 2013
• ESF signed joint letter on CETA to Barroso and Harper – October 2013
• GSC Letter to Trade Ministers of TiSA Countries – September 2013
• ESF adopted a Position Paper on the Cross Border Data Flows – May 2013

2012

• Joint EU Industry letter on India Preferential Market Access (PMA) in public procurement – Joint EU Industry letter on India Preferential Market Access (PMA) in public procurement – 20 December 2012
• European services industry calls for launch of plurilateral negotiations on services as soon as possible – 12 November 2012
• ESF-US CSI Joint Contribution to Public Consultation on EU-US Regulatory Cooperation on services – 12 November 2012
• The Canadian and EU business communities’ call for a successful conclusion to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – 22 October 2012
• Joint Industry Letter on EU Insitutions trialogue on Proposal for a Directive on Intra-Corporate Transferees – ICT – 16 October 2012
• GSC Letter on Liberalisation of FDI in the Thai Life & Non-Life Insurance industries – 10 October 2012
• ESF signed European business coalition letter calling for ratification of EU-Colombia and Peru FTA – 3 October 2012
• ESF letter to Commissioner de Gucht voicing support for launch of EU-Japan FTA negotiations – 10 July 2012
• ESF Signs Multi-Association Statement on Japan Post Reform – – 6 April 2012
• ESF Signs Multi-Association Letter to Indian PM Concerning New Preferential Market Access Rules – – 4 April 2012

2011

• ESF letter to Ignacio Garcia-Bercero on importance of services commitments in India FTA – 5 December 2011
• Joint industry communication on Trade Finance and the unintended consequences of Basal III – (additional note) – 1 December 2011
• Joint industry letter on the draft Intra-Corporate Transfer directive – 29 November 2011
• ESF letter to Commissioners for Trade, Home Affairs and Digital Agenda on Cross-Border Data Flows – (see GSC and FLWG Statement) – 22 November 2011
• ESF letter to INTA Committee Chairman on Colombia, Peru and Central America trade agreements – 21 November 2011
• ESF services priorities letter and paper on EU-Malaysia trade negotiations – 9 November 2011
• ESF and BUSINESSEUROPE joint letter on negative impact of CRD IV on trade finance – 24 October 2011
• ESF letter to Commissioner De Gucht concerning EU investment policy towards China – 7 October 2011
• ESF letter to Joint Secretary Prasad in response to the Indian Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion’s discussion paper on FDI and equity caps – 15 July 2011
• ESF endorses joint association letter on Proposal for Directive on Intra-Corporate Transferees – 22 June 2011
• ESF endorses paper on Reinvigorating Open Trade in Financial Services – 10 June 2011
• ESF Priorities on EU-Mercosur FTA negotiations – 8 April 2011

2010

• ESF Priorities on EU-India FTA negotiations – 6 December 2010
• European Services Industry priorities on EU-Singapore FTA negotiations – 12 July 2010
• GSC support for the G20 leaders’ commitment in the Toronto Summit Declaration to conclude DDA – 5 Juillet 2010
• European Services Industry views on the EU new investment policy – 25 June 2010
• European Services Industry call for an ambitious EU-MERCOSUR Trade Agreement – 14 June 2010
• Ahead of G20 Toronto Summit, Global Services Industries call on G20 Leaders to continue the fight against protectionism and conclude the WTO Doha Round – 10 June 2010
• ESF Letter to EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht on European service industries on EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement – 18 March 2010

2009

• ESF Letter to European Commission’s President José Mauel Barroso on the European Services Industry Priorities on Trade and Investment – 25 November 2009
• Letter to the European Commissioner of Trade Catherine Ashton on Mutual Recognition Agreements in Architectural Services – 21 September 2009
• ESF Letter on the FTA negotiations with Korea to the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso – 6 July 2009
• Global Services Coalition Issues Letter to G-20 Leaders before London Summit – 12 March 2009

2008

• ESF Chairman letter to EU Trade Commissioner Ashton on EU-Korea – 10 November 2008
• Global Services Coalition letter calling to refrain from protectionism sent to the leaders of the G20 – 3 November 2008

2007

• ESF Commentary on Domestic Regulation Draft Disciplines by WTO WDPR Chairman – 24 July 2007
• Call for substantial services package in the DDA : ESF letter to WTO DG Pascal Lamy – 5 July 2007
• ESF submission in response to DG Trade Questionnaire on FTAs – 5 June 2007
• Call for substantial services package in the DDA – 4 June 2007
• ESF letter to G4 WTO Trade Ministers – 4 June 2007
• Letter from Mr Mandelson to Lord Vallance on DDA EPA – 22-05-07
• ESF Letter to Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson on Services in DDA and EPAs – 17 April 2007 and the Commissioner’s response – 22 May 2007
• ESF submission in response to DG trade Questionnaire – 5 June 2007
• ESF views on the Commission’s Communication on a stronger partnership to deliever access for European exporters – 7 June 2007
• ESF Position paper on EU Free Trade Agreements – 2 March 2007
• ESF position paper on EU Free Trade Agreements – 28 February 2007

2006

• ESF letter to Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson on the external aspects of competitiveness – 21 March 2006

2005

• ESF Fourth Position Paper on the temporary movements of persons (Mode 4) – 11 April 2005

2004

• Discussion paper on GATS emergency safeguard measures – 2004

2003

• ESF New Priorities for the DDA – 5 November 2003
• Joint Business Charter for Cancun: Support for the WTO multilateral trading system – 4 September 2003
• Call for progress on reaching a WTO agreement on trade facilitation – 25 June 2003
• Call towards progress on a multilateral agreement on trade and competition – 20 May 2003
• Call for an effective launch of a multilateral agreement on trade and investment – 30 April 2003

2002

• ESF Second Position Paper on Public Procurement in Services – 25 November 2002
• ESF Position Paper on the desirabilty of Emergency Safeguard measures in the GATS – 20 September 2002

2001

• Declaration of the European services industries: Call for the launch of a new WTO round in Quatar – September 2001
• Domestic Regulation: Preliminary discussion paper – 5 June 2001
• ESF Commentary on Domestic Regulation Draft Disciplines by WTO WPDR – 5 June 2001

2000

• Second ESF Position Paper on the temporary movement of Key business personnel – 8 November 2000
• ESF Comments on emergency safeguard measures – 4 May 2000
• ESF revised paper on GATS 2000: Improvements in scheduling commitments – 4 May 2000

1999

• ESF Preliminary views on “Trade and Investment” – 23 November 1999
• Declaration of the European services industries for the third WTO ministerial conference towards the millenium round – 25 October 1999
• ESF First Position Paper on the Temporary Movement of Key business personnel – 19 October 1999
• Preliminary views on subsidies in services in the GATS framework – 12 July 1999
• Position Paper on GATS horizontal issue: Domestic regulation and the development of pro-competitive regulatory principles – 3 May 1999
• Position Paper on GATS horizontal issue/ GATS 2000/ Impreovements in scheduling committments – 3 May 1999
• ESF position paper on GATS horizontal issue: GATS 2000 and emergency safeguard measures – 3 May 1999