Brussels, 07/07/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 6 July, Canada's trade minister, Chrystia Freeland, said she had received assurances from her British counterpart, Lord Mark Price, that the UK would support the swift ratification of the EU-Canada comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA), despite the British referendum vote for the UK to leave the EU (Brexit). Lord Price gave the same assurances to his EU counterparts, news agency Associated Press reports.
In the short term, the result of the British vote will be without consequence for the continuation of the CETA signature and ratification process, as the UK remains a member of the EU until it has agreed its EU exit terms with the EU (EUROPE 11581).
On Tuesday 5 July, the Commission proposed the signature and conclusion of the CETA as a 'mixed agreement', which means that its ratification by the EU would require the approval of both the European Parliament and national parliaments (EUROPE 11587). The Commission hopes there will “soon” be a decision at the Council so that the CETA can be signed at the end of October, then provisionally implemented in spring 2017 (EUROPE 11588).
France pleased with CETA being mixed agreement. On Tuesday evening, France's trade minister, Matthias Fekl, hailed the Commission's decision to propose the CETA being a mixed agreement, in line with the position of the French government. “The French parliamentarians will then have to give their opinion in a vote on whether the CETA is ratified or not. This is an essential question of principle in order to be able to ensure the support of the European citizens on trade policies conducted in their name”, he said in a press release, reaffirming France's backing for this “ambitious, balanced and mutually beneficial” agreement that underscores “the close and historic links uniting the EU, France and Canada”. “As regards agriculture, the CETA particularly confirmed the recognition and protection of 173 EU geographical indications, including 142 French geographical indications. It will also enable the access of EU companies, especially SMEs, to Canadian public procurement, including at below federal level. In addition, Canada rallied to the European proposal of the European Investment Court System (ICS). Brought by France, this new arrangement breaks definitively with the old private arbitration system and represents an initial step towards international public justice for investment”, he said
Pabriks says EU must remain a reliable partner. In the European Parliament, the chair of the international trade committee, Bernd Lange (S&D, Germany), and the rapporteur on the CETA, Artis Pabriks (EPP, Latvia), both hailed the Commission's decision - which paves the way for the assessment of the agreement by the European Parliament. “It's very positive that we can finally start the formal ratification process of this much needed agreement for the EU economy. The ball is now in the hands of the Council, and we hope they will move swiftly. In the Parliament, we will start our discussions on the deal at the very first meeting after the summer break, and hope to be able to vote to give consent by the end of the year”, Pabriks stated. As regards the mixed nature of the agreement, he commended the Commission's decision to rally to the wishes of the Council, but he nevertheless stressed “how important it is that the EU remains a reliable negotiating partner”. “The time of the European Parliament to fulfil its duty as democratic conscience of the EU's trade policy has come. We will soon analyse the deal in detail and I encourage everyone to participate in a broad, open and honest debate about the contents of this agreement. Only an agreement that will serve the benefit of the people will find a majority in this house”, Lange stated. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)