OREANDA-NEWS. March 16, 2015. The Informal Meeting of the Trade Policy Committee Experts on Services and Investments took place in Riga. The participants discussed one of the priorities of the Latvian Presidency – Digital Europe, the importance of digital economy, and how it influences international trade flows.

Discussions were focused on SMEs, consumer and data protection and internet value chains, namely, on the ways to address barriers SMEs face when engaging in digital trade, and on how free trade agreements should address e-trust services for secure cross-border electronic transactions, safeguarding the consumers and data protection.

Furthermore, during a working session on investment issues, experts from EU Member States discussed current practices of the mechanism of appeals: its functions, legal implications and interactions with arbitration rules.

The Informal Meeting of the Trade Policy Committee Experts on Services and Investments usually takes place once during each presidency and gives an opportunity for experts to address topical issues in the sector and the Presidency priorities.