Without the backing of the Greens and nearly half of the Social Democrats, the European Parliament on Wednesday 15 February gave its consent, with 408 votes in favour, 254 against and 33 abstentions, to the provisional implementation of the free-trade agreement between the EU and Canada (CETA), which is held by its proponents to be the most progressive ever free-trade agreement.
The majority of the text - its trade provisions - will apply provisionally from the first day of the month...