Following a last-ditch meeting between the Belgian government and local authorities this Monday afternoon, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel told local media that his country was “not in a position to sign CETA”.
All other EU member states had agreed to the provisional implementation of CETA from the start of next year pending formal ratification by their national parliaments.
In Belgium’s federal state, regional governments have a say in approving international agreements.
“The federal government as well as those of the German- and Dutch-speaking regions have accepted to allow the signature of the treaty,” Michel said, but the authorities of French-speaking regions and the capital Brussels refused, he added.
European Council president Donald Tusk had given Belgium until Monday to adopt a final position, ahead of a summit scheduled with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this Thursday. The visit is now likely to be cancelled as a period of uncertainty unfolds for relations between the EU and Canada.
Agri-food implications
The proposed deal includes duty-free access for European beef and sheepmeat to Canada in exchange for allowing a quota of 50,000t of Canadian beef and 75,000t of pork into the EU.
Canadian dairy products would have free access to the EU market, while 16,800t of high-value European cheese would be allowed into Canada.
CETA was widely seen as less contentious than other proposed deals with the US (TTIP) and South American countries (Mercosur), and the Belgian debacle questions the EU’s ability to conclude any trade agreements in the near future.
Read more
Brussels Insight: Canada not the only story in Brussels this week
Full coverage: CETA
Following a last-ditch meeting between the Belgian government and local authorities this Monday afternoon, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel told local media that his country was “not in a position to sign CETA”.
All other EU member states had agreed to the provisional implementation of CETA from the start of next year pending formal ratification by their national parliaments.
In Belgium’s federal state, regional governments have a say in approving international agreements.
“The federal government as well as those of the German- and Dutch-speaking regions have accepted to allow the signature of the treaty,” Michel said, but the authorities of French-speaking regions and the capital Brussels refused, he added.
European Council president Donald Tusk had given Belgium until Monday to adopt a final position, ahead of a summit scheduled with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this Thursday. The visit is now likely to be cancelled as a period of uncertainty unfolds for relations between the EU and Canada.
Agri-food implications
The proposed deal includes duty-free access for European beef and sheepmeat to Canada in exchange for allowing a quota of 50,000t of Canadian beef and 75,000t of pork into the EU.
Canadian dairy products would have free access to the EU market, while 16,800t of high-value European cheese would be allowed into Canada.
CETA was widely seen as less contentious than other proposed deals with the US (TTIP) and South American countries (Mercosur), and the Belgian debacle questions the EU’s ability to conclude any trade agreements in the near future.
Read more
Brussels Insight: Canada not the only story in Brussels this week
Full coverage: CETA
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