Endorsement of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)

Abstract:

The European Parliament's international trade committee endorsed on 24 January 2017 the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union. The deal aims to boost goods and services trade and investments flows.

The negotiations for the agreement were launched in May 2009 following the decision of EU member states. The document was signed in October 2016. The agreement was scheduled to be voted by the Parliament's plenary session in February 2017. Should it be approved, it could apply provisionally from April 2017. As CETA was declared a mixed agreement by the European Commission in July 2016, it also needed to be ratified by national and regional parliaments.

The European Parliament was due to debate and vote on CETA in the second February 2017 plenary session. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was due to speak at the European Parliament on the 16 February 2017.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: International Agreements in Progress: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada http://www.europeansources.info/record/international-agreements-in-progress-comprehensive-economic-and-trade-agreement-ceta-with-canada/

ESO: Background information: Parliament rejects a request to refer CETA to the European Court of Justice http://www.europeansources.info/record/parliament-rejects-a-request-to-refer-ceta-to-the-european-court-of-justice/

EurActiv, 24.01.17: CETA clears crucial hurdle in Parliament’s trade committee http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/ceta-clears-crucial-hurdle-in-parliaments-trade-committee/

Deutsche Welle, 24.01.17: CETA deal defies protectionist sentiment as it passes key hurdle http://dw.com/p/2WIzw

European Parliament: Press Release, 24.01.17: Ceta: 'This trade deal is based on best practices on both sides of the Atlantic' http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170123STO59530/

EP: EPRS: Plenary At a Glance, February 2017: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2017/599249/EPRS_ATA(2017)599249_EN.pdf

EurActiv, 09.02.17: Trudeau to make one last CETA plea to European Parliament http://www.euractiv.com/section/all/news/trudeau-to-make-one-last-ceta-plea-to-european-parliament/

EUObserver, 10.02.17: [Opinion] Unfair EU-Canada trade deal is wrong response to Trump https://euobserver.com/opinion/136857

Social Europe, 14.02.17: As MEPs Vote On CETA, Trade Unions Demand A New Approach To Trade https://www.socialeurope.eu/2017/02/meps-vote-ceta-trade-unions-demand-new-approach-trade/

EurActiv, 15.02.17: Civil society makes final push to block EU-Canada trade deal http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/civil-society-makes-final-push-to-block-eu-canada-trade-deal/

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