02/11/2016 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 2 November, French Secretary of State for Trade Matthias Fekl called on national parliaments to be involved from the beginning of the free-trade talks between the EU and third countries. Speaking on France Inter radio, following the signing of the EU-Canada free-trade agreement (CETA), Fekl stated: “After 30 years of neoliberal deregulation, there is a need for a return to democracy and public authority in international economic negotiations”. He called for an “overhaul” of the EU’s trade policy in order to “involve parliaments at the beginning of the process… so that they are not left with a fait accompli at the end of the process”. He asserted that “whatever Europe gives, it must receive in return. It has naïvely applied neoliberal dogmas for too long”. He also urged “the return of public authority and the return of rules within globalisation”. (EH)