European Commission proposes signature and conclusion of EU-Canada trade deal

Abstract:

On the 5 July 2016, the European Commission proposed to the Council of the European Union the signature and conclusion of a free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada, known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA.

The European Commission suggested that it hoped that the agreement could be signed during the European Union-Canada Summit in October 2016.

However, commentators were quick to criticise the announcement saying that after planning to consult only the European Parliament as regards the CETA free trade agreement with Canada, the European Commission had now decided to see CETA as a 'mixed agreement' and to allow EU national parliaments to have their say. Some commentators saw this as a clever move in the dispute over the distribution of power in Europe. Others believed it was a mistake particularly in a context of growing Euroscepticism - and as a major challenge to the effectiveness of EU trade policy.

Politico reported remarks said to have been given by European Commission Director General for Trade, Jean-Luc Demarty, in late July 2016 saying that EU trade policy would have a 'big credibility problem' if it could not ratify the deal.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Is CETA a mixed agreement? http://www.europeansources.info/record/is-ceta-a-mixed-agreement/

ESO: Background Information: CETA: the EU-Canada free trade agreement http://www.europeansources.info/record/ceta-the-eu-canada-free-trade-agreement/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: MEMO/16/2372, 05.07.16: CETA - an EU free trade deal fit for the 21st century http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-2372_en.htm

Euro|Topics: Debates, July 2016: National parliaments to have their say on Ceta http://www.eurotopics.net/en/161756/national-parliaments-to-have-their-say-on-ceta

CBC News, 05.07.16: Canada gets clarity on how Europe will ratify trade deal http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ceta-european-commission-ratification-mixed-competency-1.3664884

Politico, 05.07.16: Credibility of Europe’s trade policy at stake http://www.politico.eu/article/credibility-of-europes-trade-policy-at-stake/

EurActiv, 06.07.16: Member states claw back control over CETA http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/member-states-claw-back-control-over-ceta/

Deutsche Welle, 05.07.16: Commentary: More democracy, less room for debate on CETA? http://dw.com/p/1JJla

EUObserver, 05.07.16: EU wobbles on Canada free trade https://euobserver.com/economic/134199

Politico, 02.08.16: EU trade policy ‘close to death’ if Canada deal fails http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-trade-policy-close-to-death-if-canada-deal-fails/

EUObserver, 01.09.16: Socialist MEPs split on EU-Canada trade deal https://euobserver.com/economic/134842

EurActiv, 31.08.16: German leaders told to put brakes on CETA as well http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/german-leaders-told-to-put-brakes-on-ceta-as-well/

Social Europe, 12.09.16: Setting A New Agenda For Fair World Trade https://www.socialeurope.eu/2016/09/setting-a-new-agenda-for-fair-world-trade/

ETUC: Press Release, 05.07.16: Putting CETA to national Parliaments is the right decision https://www.etuc.org/press/putting-ceta-national-parliaments-right-decision#.V9a_K_krKUk

EurActiv, 12.09.16: Canada expects EU trade deal ratification in 2017 http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/canada-expects-eu-trade-deal-ratification-in-2017/

EUObserver, 15.09.16: Canada trade deal is 'wrong enemy' https://euobserver.com/economic/135096

Politico, 18.09.16: Battle of Wolfsburg will determine EU’s fate as trade power http://www.politico.eu/article/battle-of-wolfsburg-determine-eu-fate-trade-power-sigmar-gabriel-political-future/

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