Wallonia leader rejects
EU-Canada trade deal ultimatum
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[October 24, 2016] BRUSSELS
(Reuters) - The premier of Belgium's Wallonia region
insisted ahead of a crisis meeting of regional leaders
with Prime Minister Charles Michel that he would not
agree to an EU-Canada trade deal under pressure. |
![](../images/102416pics/busine13.jpg)
Minister-President of Wallonia Paul Magnette attends a
meeting on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade
Agreement (CETA), a planned EU-Canada free trade
agreement, at the Walloon regional parliament in Namur,
Belgium, October 21, 2016. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir |
"Every time you try to put an ultimatum it makes a calm debate
and a democratic debate impossible," Paul Magnette said on
arrival at the meeting in Brussels, hours before EU leaders say
they will cancel this week's signing of the CETA pact unless
Belgium gives its consent.
"We don't need an ultimatum," Magnette told reporters. "We will
not decide anything under an ultimatum or under pressure."
Michel cannot add the consent of Belgium to that of the other 27
EU member states without backing from five regional authorities.
Socialist-led Wallonia and French-speaking allies in southern
Belgium are withholding that.
"We are not against a treaty with Canada," Magnette said. "But
we won't have one that jeopardizes social and environmental
standards and the protection of public services and we want
absolutely no private arbitration mechanisms."
(Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek and Philip Blenkinsop; Writing
by Alastair Macdonald)
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