Statement by the European Commissioner for Trade and Canada’s Minister of International Trade

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details STATEMENT/16/3101 (18.09.16)
Publication Date 18/09/2016
Content Type

Abstract:

The European Commissioner for Trade and Canada's Minister of International Trade released on 18 September 2016 a joint statement on the progress regarding the signature and implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

This statement was published as Germany's centre-left SPD sought and received its members' endorsement for the agreement, which had seen several sources of criticism across the European Union. Protests had been scheduled in several German cities against this and other trade deals, in particular the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

Member of Parliament in the Wallonia region of Belgium voted to prevent the federal government in Belgium voting for the CETA on the 14 October 2016. EU Ministers had been expected to vote for the agreement on the 18 October 2016 with a final signature with Canada planned for the 27 October 2016.

On the 22 October 2016 the President of the European Parliament met separately the federal Minister of International Trade of Canada and with the Minister-President of Wallonia on the issue of CETA.

President Schulz said: 'These meetings give me much reason for optimism about the positive conclusion of CETA as soon as possible.

The few remaining issues which stand in the way of the adoption of CETA are for us Europeans to solve. My meeting with Minister-President Magnette, ... confirmed that none of the stumbling blocks on the way of CETA’s adoption by Belgium are insurmountable. The contrary is true: this morning’s meeting already set out the next steps needed to give further clarity and legal certainty to meet the concerns raised by the Walloon Parliament and which are shared by many citizens in Europe'.

The challenges in securing EU Member State agreement to CETA and the anti-CETA and TTIP campaigns by many NGOs and citizens / consumers raised questions as to whether the overall EU trade policy was in crisis

Source Link Link to Main Source http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-16-3101_en.htm
Related Links
ESO: Background information: European Commission proposes signature and conclusion of EU-Canada trade deal http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-commission-proposes-signature-and-conclusion-of-eu-canada-trade-deal/
EurActiv, 20.09.16: Germany’s Gabriel gets SPD green light to support CETA http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/germanys-gabriel-gets-spd-green-light-to-support-ceta/
Politico, 19.09.16: EU trade policy back on the rails after crunch German vote http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-trade-policy-back-on-the-rails-after-crunch-german-vote/
Euro|Topics: Debates, October 2016: Touch and go with Ceta http://www.eurotopics.net/en/166507/touch-and-go-with-ceta
European Commission: DG Trade: Policy: Comprehensive Trade and Economic Agreement (CETA) http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/ceta/
European Commission: DG Trade: News, 19.09.16: Commissioner Malmström meets civil society organisations in Brussels on CETA http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=1542
European Commission: DG Trade: News, 20.09.16: Speech: CETA : An Effective and Progressive Deal for Belgium and Europe http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=1543
EUObserver, 23.09.16: Canada woos Europe's sceptical left on trade deal https://euobserver.com/economic/135206
Politico, 23.09.16: Europe nears trade deal with Canada http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-nears-trade-deal-with-canada-keeps-ttip-on-life-support-ceta-europe/
EurActiv, 04.10.16: Austria’s chancellor sees CETA negotiations on right track http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/austrias-chancellor-sees-ceta-negotiations-on-right-track/
EurActiv, 07.10.16: Leaked CETA declaration given short shrift http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/leaked-ceta-declaration-given-short-shrift/
EurActiv, 06.10.16: French MPs decide not to block CETA http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/french-mps-choose-not-to-block-ceta/
EurActiv, 14.10.16: Belgian region of Wallonia blocks EU-Canada trade deal http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/belgian-region-of-wallonia-blocks-eu-canada-trade-deal/
The Guardian, 14.10.16: EU-Canada free trade deal at risk after Belgian regional parliament vote https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/oct/14/eu-canada-free-trade-deal-ceta-in-jeopardy-belgium-wallonia-parliament-vote
Politico, 14.10.16: Walloon parliament rejects CETA deal http://www.politico.eu/article/walloon-parliament-rejects-ceta-deal/
EUObserver, 17.10.16: Belgian region still saying No to EU-Canada trade pact https://euobserver.com/economic/135534
EurActiv, 19.10.16: Bulgaria and Romania maintain reservations on CETA http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/bulgaria-and-romania-maintain-reservations-on-ceta/
Blog: Vote Watch Europe, 19.10.16: Lessons to be learnt from CETA’s stalemate http://www.votewatch.eu/blog/lessons-to-be-learnt-from-cetas-stalemate/
Euro|Topics: Debates, October 2016: No green light for Ceta http://www.eurotopics.net/en/168021/no-green-light-for-ceta
EurActiv: Tag: CETA http://www.euractiv.com/topics/ceta/
Politico, 20.10.16: How the EU threw away its trade powers http://www.politico.eu/article/walloon-rebellion-threatens-commissions-trade-powers/
Germany: Federal Government: News, 19.10.16: CETA before the Cabinet. Both businesses and consumers will benefit https://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Artikel/2016/10_en/2016-10-19-ceta-abkommen_en.html?nn=709674
Canada: Policy Areas: Trade & Investment: Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) - Frequently Asked Questions (Text updated: 06.10.16) http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/eu-ue/policies-politiques/ceta_faq_aecg.aspx?lang=eng
Deutsche Welle, 22.10.16: EU-Canada talks continue to save CETA deal http://dw.com/p/2RY5s
European Parliament: Press Release, 22.10.16: Schulz on his meetings with Chrystia Freeland and Paul Magnette http://www.europarl.europa.eu/the-president/en/press-room/schulz-on-his-meetings-with-chrystia-freeland-and-paul-magnette
Politico, 22.10.16: Martin Schulz confident EU-Canada deal can be signed http://www.politico.eu/article/martin-schulz-is-confident-ceta-can-be-signed/

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