Canada welcomes European Union free trade deal move, sees 2017 breakthrough

That means Brussels can not simply ratify CETA on behalf of all European Union member states, but that each of the national parliaments – and some regional parliaments as well – will also have to approve the trade deal.

Coninsx said there was a political need to deal with the rising tide of anti-globalization forces in Europe, by giving the bloc’s countries the right to ratify as part of the mixed designation.

“I remain in close contact with the EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, whom I will meet in Shanghai this weekend, and many of my European colleagues, including Sigmar Gabriel, Mathias Fekl, and Martin Schulz”, Freeland said.

The European Commission has formally proposed to the EU Council the signature and conclusion of a free trade agreement with Canada.

Protesters, such as this one in Brussels last October, have hit the streets to oppose Europe’s trade negotiations with not only Canada but also USA civil society groups that fear a loss of national sovereignty under the deal.

The Commission recognises that the agreement requires the approval of national parliaments, but insists that the deal should apply even before parliaments can take a vote.

Canada’s trade minister says the “lion’s share” of the benefits of the mammoth Canada-EU trade agreement will begin flowing by the time the deal is provisionally applied.

“It is very likely, nearly certain that provisional application would cover the lion’s share of the agreement”, Chrystia Freeland told The Canadian Press on Tuesday.

“I have looked at the legal arguments and I have listened to heads of state or government and to national parliaments”, Juncker said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the Financial Times report, Mr. Juncker pulled back when European Union members, notably Germany and France, said their governments should be involved. “This shows how important it is that CETA is voted down at the European Parliament when the vote comes up at the end of this year”.

Freeland said she had a lengthy conversation on Monday with her EU counterpart, Malmstrom, and still believes CETA has enough support to win approval in the European Parliament.

“We welcome that the commission has backtracked from its initial plan and is proposing a proper and democratic ratification process for this highly sensitive trade agreement with Canada”, said Green trade spokesman Yannick Jadot.