On Tuesday 24 January, MEPs from the European Parliament's international trade (INTA) committee adopted (25 votes in favour, 15 against and one abstention) the draft recommendation by Artis Pabriks (EPP, Latvia) to ratify and provisionally implement the EU-Canada free trade agreement (CETA) that was signed on 30 November 2016.
"This is a strong and important signal in favour of the regulation of globalisation", the chair of the INTA committee, Bernd Lange (S&D, Germany), was pleased to state.
"CETA is the best example of a 21st century trade agreement. It shows that the EU can shape globalisation", the rapporteur, Pabriks, said.
"By adopting CETA, we are making a leap forwards. In the face of the rise in protectionism and populism, the European Parliament is able and willing to act on behalf of European citizens. I am strongly in favour of a strong Europe and open markets. Ratifying this agreement will ensure a continuing contribution of wealth on both sides of our transatlantic friendship. The duty of our governments is to ensure that each of us can benefit from this", Pabriks said before the vote.
His draft recommendation will be put to the plenary vote in Strasbourg on 15 February. If this new milestone is reached, CETA will enter into force provisionally, possibly from March, according to European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, as long as it is also ratified by the Canadian Parliament – which is also due to give its decision in February. CETA was declared a "mixed agreement" by the Commission but will nevertheless have to be ratified by all the national and regional parliaments of the EU in order to enter fully into force. This procedure may take several years.
"This agreement will allow European companies access to more public procurement and protection of over 150 geographical indications in Canada. At the same time, CETA does not challenge our public services or European standards, and it preserves our choices of society", said French EPP MEPs Tokia Saïfi and Franck Proust. They nevertheless called for close monitoring of CETA's implementation in order to address any "dysfunction".
With CETA, "the most progressive trade deal ever", "we are rejecting unfettered globalisation and laying the foundations for a new era of rules-based trade, where the benefits are spread more widely and our labour and environmental standards are preserved", David Martin (S&D, UK) said on behalf of his group. "While globally the tendency is to turn in on oneself, the EU and Canada are leading the way towards a world trading system that is open for business without compromising our values or way of life", he added
"The CETA deal is a landmark for free trade. Today’s approval by the European Parliament’s INTA committee will help restore the EU's reputation as a reliable trading partner after the deal was held up by socialist politicians in the Belgian region of Wallonia. This is one of the highest quality agreements ever negotiated and clearly highlights the benefits of free trade", Emma McClarkin (ECR, UK) stated.
"In the light of President Trump’s many comments on trade policy and his cancellation of the Trans-Pacific-Partnership (TPP) yesterday, it is now more important than ever that there is no further delay in the approval of CETA. We have to forge alliances with Canada and other partners in the world. The EU and Canada must work together to strengthen the multilateral system”, Guy Verhoftadt (ALDE, Belgium) said.
"This green light given by the conservatives, the liberal democrats and half of the socialists to a scandalous project to transfer our democratic and legal sovereignty to a handful of multinationals is (...) a red carpet for the far right", said Yannick Jadot (Greens/EFA, France) on behalf of his group. "The European Parliament has not learned a single lesson from the victory of Trump and the Brexit vote", he added.
The leader of the ENF Group, Marine Le Pen from France, who is a far right opposition figure to free trade and CETA and a permanent member of the INTA committee, did not take part in the vote as she was absent. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)