MEPs approve EU-Canada trade deal

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani welcomed today’s plenary vote on the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and Strategic Partnership Agreement with Canada.

President Tajani stated: “This is a good agreement for our citizens. It will create new jobs and stimulate growth benefitting our entrepreneurs and consumers, while taking on board their concerns. It guarantees that the EU’s high health, environmental and labour standards will be protected.

By eliminating tariffs, regulatory and administrative barriers, as well as opening up public procurement markets, it creates opportunities - mainly for SMEs - making them more competitive. The entire real economy, including investment, manufacturing, services, e-commerce, agriculture and fishery, will also stand to benefit considerably from the agreement."

EuroCommerce Director-General Christian Verschueren said: “Today’s vote is an important contribution to the creation of badly-needed growth and jobs in Europe. Especially at a time of political uncertainty we need an approach that ensures a sound international trading environment. CETA is a good deal both for European companies and European consumers.”

"CETA raises serious questions to the protection of our online rights and freedoms. These concerns have been sadly ignored. We now turn to the EU Member States to stand up for the interest of their citizens by rejecting CETA", said Maryant Fernández Pérez, Senior Policy Advisor at European Digital Rights (EDRi).

Greenpeace EU trade policy adviser Shira Stanton said: “Despite today’s vote, the ratification of CETA by all of Europe’s parliaments is still the most unlikely outcome. But the disconnect between MEPs and public concerns over living standards, public health and the environment is another blow to the EU, just when its principles of solidarity and cooperation are most needed.”

“Millions are taking to the streets on both sides of the Atlantic against a rollback of social and environmental rights. Instead of standing up for justice and democracy, too many politicians continue to hand privileges to multinational corporations. Politicians in Europe and elsewhere – especially those who call themselves progressive – should put the public interest before corporate profits.”

Fabian Flues, Trade Campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe said: “This trade deal is a backward step in dealing with some of the world’s most pressing issues. It is a deal that puts profit before people by giving unacceptable rights to corporations to sue our governments for billions. Instead of helping to address the growing inequality, runaway climate change and the over-exploitation of people and natural resource, CETA will make it even harder to tackle them.”

Jan Willem Goudriaan, General Secretary of the European Public Services Union said: “Workers and those on low incomes do not see the benefits of these deals, and nor do many municipalities, farmers, consumer and environmental groups or small businesses. The fight goes on not only at the national level to block the ratification but also across the EU to shape a new, progressive trade agenda that protects and promotes public services and puts people and planet before corporate power and profit.”