CETA Approval Update
Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, is preparing to ditch contentious plans to fast-track approval of a trade deal with Canada, in an eleventh-hour political retreat that followed staunch criticism from some European capitals.
To the dismay of Germany and France, Mr Juncker had tried to speed up the formal adoption of the EU-Canada deal by having it approved by trade ministers and MEPs, without the need for 38 national parliaments, some of them regional, to sign it off.
But in a nod to critics in Berlin, the commission is now planning to switch approach and declare the Canada deal a so-called "mixed agreement" at a meeting of EU commissioners on Tuesday, said officials familiar with the discussions.
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A lively debate is expected among commissioners on Tuesday, with some still pressing for the commission to drive through a so-called EU-only deal as its legal advice has suggested. The commission may recommend provisionally applying the EU-parts of the Canada deal while full ratification is pending.
The EU process for approving trade agreements is beginning to match the US process in terms of complexity and contentiousness.
ADDED: Here's more from the Commission:
... To allow for a swift signature and provisional application, so that the expected benefits are reaped without unnecessary delay, the Commission has decided to propose CETA as 'mixed' agreement. This is without prejudice to its legal view, as expressed in a case currently being examined by the European Court of Justice concerning the trade deal reached between the EU and Singapore. With this step, the Commission makes its contribution for the deal to be signed during the next EU-Canada Summit, in October.
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Following a decision by the Council, it will be possible to provisionally apply CETA. Its full entering into force will be subject to the conclusion by the EU, through a Council decision with the consent of the European Parliament, and by all Member States through the relevant national ratification procedures.
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This is from Swedish MEP Christofer Fjellner:
Irresponsible and legally wrong by Commission and@MalmstromEU to propose#CETA mixed. Single most destructive decision in EU trade policy!
And:
Are you joking?!!! By proposing it mixed you at best postpone the agreement with years. At worse you just killed it!