Sky News: A controversial and much-delayed free trade deal between the European Union and Canada will be signed in Brussels on Sunday.
EU Council President Donald Tusk announced the news in a tweet late on Friday night.
“Mission accomplished! Just agreed with PM @JustinTrudeau to hold EU-Canada Summit this Sunday”, Donald Tusk tweeted.
The Canadian PM replied: “I’ve just spoken with @eucopresident Tusk – the Canada-EU Summit will be Sunday. Great news and I’m looking forward to being there.”
The deal, known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), is seven years in the making but was almost entirely derailed last week by a regional government in Belgium.
Mission accomplished! Just agreed with PM @JustinTrudeau to hold EU-Canada Summit this Sunday
— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) October 28, 2016
EU rules require unanimity among all 28 member states before trade deals can be signed. And for some member states, like Belgium, which has a federal government, that required regional unanimity too.
The French-speaking Belgian region of Wallonia blocked the deal demanding stronger safeguards on environmental, labour and consumer standards.
The Walloon government had particular concerns that its farmers would face new competition from Canadian imports.
Across Brussels, anti-CETA and anti-TTIP (the EU-US trade deal) sentiment is evident in the form of graffiti on bridges and road junctions.
I've just spoken with @eucopresident Tusk – the Canada-EU Summit will be Sunday. Great news and I'm looking forward to being there. #CETA
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 28, 2016
The CETA stalemate prompted the EU Council President to suggest that the credibility of all future EU trade deals were threatened.
Last week Mr Tusk tweeted: “Deeply concerned by difficult CETA situation. Still waiting for an answer. Credibility of Europe at stake.”
It’s not entirely clear what concessions have been given to the Walloons but it was enough for them to agree the deal.
