BRUSSELS: Belgium’s Trade Minister Didier Reynders says EU leaders may agree on a landmark EU-Canada trade deal this week – but only if objections from his country’s Wallonia region can be met.
EU trade ministers are discussing the Ceta deal in Luxembourg, and Wallonia’s concerns cannot be ignored. Belgium’s national government backs the deal.
Walloon MPs say Ceta favours Canadian firms and they want more safeguards for Belgian farmers. It is the EU’s biggest trade deal yet.
Going into the Luxembourg meeting, Mr Reynders said: “The federal government is in favour [of Ceta] but we have to convince particularly Wallonia.
“I’m in permanent contact with the Walloon prime minister. I hope we’ll be able to move forward at the summit.” Trade will be a major issue at the two-day EU summit in Brussels.
