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Belgium has still to make a decision on CETA

10:45 19/10/2016

Belgium is the only EU Member State still left to make a decision regarding the signing of the EU-Canada trade agreement CETA. "As of today, I can say that 27, or let's say 27.5 Member States agree," said Belgium's foreign minister Didier Reynders on Tuesday following a meeting with his European counterparts. Belgium's decision is stalled by persistent opposition to CETA from the country's French-speaking communities. Belgium must announce its decision at the European summit on Thursday and Friday, writes Het Laatste Nieuws.

The European Ministers responsible for trade gathered yesterday in Luxembourg to discuss the last obstacles to the official CETA signing on 27 October. The ministers managed to eliminate reservations from other hesitant countries such as Germany, Austria and Poland. Belgium, however, continues to be split in half over the decision.

According to Reynders, the decision marks "a very important moment for the position of Belgium in Europe". He also called the situation "dangerous for Belgium internally”.

Reynders has only a couple of days left to try to convince the Walloon Government and the French-speaking communities to join the rest of the Member States in signing the trade agreement.

Written by Robyn Boyle