The Belgians are fighting internal tussles over how to follow up on the internal compromise achieved between the federal government, the Flemish regional bodies and the Wallonians ahead of the signature of the EU Canada trade pact CETA early November this year. Charles Michel has tabled a motion in …
Internal EU politics
Vietnam Ambassador heard by Wallonian parliament
The parliament of Wallonia is hearing the views of Vietnam’s Ambassador to the EU today (1 December 2016). After having been in the limelight as the regional Belgian parliament that almost scuppered the EU Canada CETA deal late October, the Namur-based legislature has stepped up its scrutiny of all free trade …
New Deputy DG in the trade department nominated
The Commission has found a replacement to Sabine Weyand, the Deputy Director General at DG Trade who has joined the new Brexit team led by Michel Barner. The nominee is Joost Korte. The Dutchman has been Deputy Director General Deputy Director-General the department for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) …
Strong far right support for failed CETA ECJ referral resolution
VoteWatch.eu has released the details of yesterday’s (23 November 2016) vote on a resolution requesting the European Parliament to ask the Court of Justice to verify the legal compatibility of the EU-Canada trade agreement (CETA) proponents hope to see come into force provisionally in early 2017. The left-wing move has …
Comment: EU trade policy must use the trade deal pause in 2017 to sort itself out
With TTIP off the table for now, 2017 will be a good year for the EU common commercial policy to sort itself out, Iana Dreyer muses. There is no doubt : the EU’s trade policy has taken quite a few beatings lately. The blows have come from outside and from …
TiSA conclusion in balance as France blocs data flow language
“France is blocking everything”, a source close to the Trade in Services Agreement talks told Borderlex. “I fear it is dead”. The early December deadline the 23 TiSA parties set themselves for a political conclusion of the deal appears unattainable. Several issues are coming into play: the political climate in the US …
New French reform proposals on trade policy: more nationalism in offing?
France’s government submitted a set of proposals to reform the EU’s trade policy. The move comes after the protracted political process in the run-up to the signature of the flagship Canada-EU trade agreement CETA. During that process, a regional government of Belgium, held up CETA for several days and nearly toppled …
Fast: What to expect from today’s trade ministers meeting
Today, trade ministers are meeting in Brussels to take stock of Europe’s trade files. Expect no major decision or breakthrough on the spot. Briefly, the main issues: China and trade defence instruments: Cecilia Malmström said it herself on arrival this morning – no decision on the new dumping calculation …
In brief: Anti CETA and TTIP protests not abating
Is the final green light to CETA signature given by the Walloon government late October radicalising the anti CETA and TTIP protest movement? There are signs this is the case. On Thursday evening demonstrators put on a big anti CETA show in front of the EU Parliament on place du …
Analysis – After CETA: what next for the deal and for EU trade policy?
The dramatic CETA episode has clearly weakened the Commission’s hand in trade policy, and dented the EU’s reputation as a reliable partner, Iana Dreyer finds. So the EU has managed to obtain unanimous backing by its 28 member states of the CETA agreement with Canada after all. The flagship …
