Fear and loathing in Namur: CETA will likely be rescued, but disaffection with globalisation can no longer be ignored

Abstract:

The Belgian government stated on the 24 October 2016 that it was unable to sign the proposed EU-Canada free trade agreement, CETA, due to opposition in the region of Wallonia.

The regional parliaments of the Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles and the Walloon region in Belgium had rejected the agreement in the previous weeks, meaning the Belgian Federal government could not ratify the deal. Without a Belgian signature, CETA could not enter into force.

Bob Hancké outlines the complicated federal arrangements in the country which have derailed the agreement and suggests that while previous Belgian compromises indicate CETA can still be saved, popular dissatisfaction with globalisation across Europe is only likely to grow.

News sources reported on the 27 October 2016 that the federal Belgium Government had come to an agreement with the Walloon authorities to allow for Belgium to join all other EU Member States in signing the agreement with Canada.
However, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had already postponed a planned trip to Europe to sign the agreement on the 27 October 2016.

ESO: Background information: Thousands protest against CETA and TTIP in Brussels http://www.europeansources.info/record/thousands-protest-against-ceta-and-ttip-in-brussels/

ESO: Background information: Statement by the European Commissioner for Trade and Canada's Minister of International Trade http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-by-the-european-commissioner-for-trade-and-canadas-minister-of-international-trade/

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/

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/

EUObserver, 17.10.16: Belgian region still saying No to EU-Canada trade pact https://euobserver.com/economic/135534

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, 14.10.16: Walloon parliament rejects CETA deal http://www.politico.eu/article/walloon-parliament-rejects-ceta-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, 25.10.16: Belgian deputy PM lashes out at Wallonia trade deal block http://www.politico.eu/article/belgian-deputy-pm-lashes-out-at-wallonia-trade-deal-block/

ESO: Background information: Europe's Trade Policy: Can a Phoenix Rise From the Ashes? http://www.europeansources.info/record/europes-trade-policy-can-a-phoenix-rise-from-the-ashes/

Politico, 20.10.16: Flemish nationalists hamstrung by Belgium’s trade fiasco http://www.politico.eu/article/flemish-nationalists-hamstrung-by-belgiums-trade-fiasco/

ESO: Background information: Belgium has divided and decentralized itself almost out of existence http://www.europeansources.info/record/belgium-has-divided-and-decentralized-itself-almost-out-of-existence/

The Guardian, 24.10.16: Belgium given EU ultimatum to secure Canada trade deal, but Wallonia defiant https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/oct/24/belgium-eu-ultimatum-canada-trade-deal-ceta-wallonia

EUObserver, 24.10.16: Belgian veto leaves EU-Canada deal in limbo https://euobserver.com/economic/135632

The Globe and Mail, 25.10.16: What’s Wallonia’s deal? A primer on its role in CETA’s crisis http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/european-business/explainer-ceta-wallonia-europe-and-canada/article32489554/

EurActiv, 24.10.16: Wallonia rejects EU ‘ultimatum’ over CETA https://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/wallonia-rejects-eu-ultimatum-over-ceta/

Wikipedia: Wallonia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallonia

Euro|Topics: Debates, October 2016: Belgium blocks Ceta for time being http://www.eurotopics.net/en/168021/belgium-blocks-ceta-for-time-being

Blog: Verfassungsblog, 24.10.16: European vetocracy? How to overcome the Wallonian CETA problem http://verfassungsblog.de/european-vetocracy-how-to-overcome-the-wallonian-ceta-problem/

Social Europe, 25.10.16: The Wallonia Mouse And ‘Undemocratic’ Trade Deals https://www.socialeurope.eu/2016/10/wallonia-mouse-undemocratic-trade-deals/

EurActiv, 26.10.16: Belgians keep EU, Canada in suspense on CETA trade deal http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/belgians-keep-eu-canada-in-suspense-on-trade-deal/

EurActiv, 27.10.16: Belgium plans new talks to break EU-Canada trade deadlock http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/belgium-plans-new-talks-to-break-eu-canada-trade-deadlock/

The Guardian, 27.10.16: Belgium reaches deal with Wallonia over EU-Canada trade agreement https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/27/belgium-reaches-deal-with-wallonia-over-eu-canada-trade-agreement

Politico, 27.10.16: Belgium’s Walloons cave on EU-Canada trade deal http://www.politico.eu/article/belgiums-walloons-cave-on-eu-canada-trade-deal/

EUObserver, 27.10.16: Canada's PM cancels EU summit amid Ceta woes https://euobserver.com/economic/135679

Blog: Open Europe, 26.10.16: What lessons can the UK draw from the EU-Canada trade deal debacle? http://openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/what-lessons-can-the-uk-draw-from-the-eu-canada-trade-deal-debacle/

Euro|Topics: Debates, October 2016: Belgium lifts blockade on Ceta http://www.eurotopics.net/en/168577/belgium-lifts-blockade-on-ceta

Social Europe, 03.11.16: How Far Should We Push Globalisation? https://www.socialeurope.eu/2016/11/far-push-globalisation/

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 08.11.16: How far should we push globalisation? http://bit.ly/2eRqwb2

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