The negotiation teams of Wallonia and the EU are discussing the new texts requested by the Belgian region regarding the trade agreement with Canada.
Earlier, regional Walloon authorities presented a list of conditions in order to accept the agreement.
A safety clause on earlier withdrawal from the agreement, the facilitation of the access of small firms to international arbitration which has to become a public institution for the settling of trade disputes etc. are among the demands submitted.
No one is going to change the fact that the EU is still a union of states and not of institutions, commented the President of the European council Donald Tusk.
The apprehensions concerning private arbitration are being discussed and explained at the moment. I believe that, after today’s talks, the climate and situation regarding CETA, and perhaps future trade agreements, will change for the better, added Tusk.
The EU-Canada summit meeting scheduled for October 27 has not been cancelled. It is not clear yet, however, whether Justin Trudeau will sign the free-trade agreement with the EU.