The EU Commission on Tuesday urged national parliaments to swiftly ratify the long-delayed EU-Canada trade deal, an agreement that is largely seen as a model for a proposed deal with the US.
"The trade agreement between the EU and Canada is our best and most progressive trade agreement and I want it to enter into force as soon as possible," said EU Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker in a statement.
Canadian and European leaders formally concluded the deal in 2014, but implementation has been delayed due to rising discontent in Europe over the effects of globalisation.
Amid growing opposition, the commission abandoned plans to fast-track the deal and bypass national parliaments after facing fierce opposition by France and Germany.
European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem said the deal, if signed as hoped in October, could be applied provisionally as it underwent a EU-wide ratification process that could take years.
The deal is scheduled to be signed at the end of October during a summit in Brussels with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and could be implemented as early as 2017.
The EU Commission on Tuesday urged national parliaments to swiftly ratify the long-delayed EU-Canada trade deal, an agreement that is largely seen as a model for a proposed deal with the US.
“The trade agreement between the EU and Canada is our best and most progressive trade agreement and I want it to enter into force as soon as possible,” said EU Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker in a statement.
Canadian and European leaders formally concluded the deal in 2014, but implementation has been delayed due to rising discontent in Europe over the effects of globalisation.
Amid growing opposition, the commission abandoned plans to fast-track the deal and bypass national parliaments after facing fierce opposition by France and Germany.
European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem said the deal, if signed as hoped in October, could be applied provisionally as it underwent a EU-wide ratification process that could take years.
The deal is scheduled to be signed at the end of October during a summit in Brussels with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and could be implemented as early as 2017.
