A debate session of the European Parliament  (Photo: vov.vn)

The debate focused on a 36-page report presented by MP Geert Bourgeois. Three of the report’s six sections present legal procedures. The other three sections are the assessments of the EP’s foreign affairs, development, and fisheries committees.

The report lists Vietnam as one of the EU’s strategic partners. The EU and Vietnam share many goals - boosting growth and employment, improving competitiveness, fighting poverty, and implementing sustainable development goals – and share a strong commitment to trade liberalization and law-based multilateral trade.

Bourgeois’s report cites the benefits of trade with Vietnam and the positive impact the EVFTA will have on Vietnam and calls on the EP to promptly approve the agreement.

The EP is scheduled to vote on the agreement later on Wednesday.