About: Paul Magnette
Belgium struggles to bridge differences amid coronavirus crisis
In Belgium, the coronavirus pandemic has lead to a small political breakthrough on Sunday (15 March), as the main political parties agreed to grant the current caretaker government under Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes special powers for the next six months...
Malmström in Tokyo to clinch trade deal in time for G20
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker dispatched the EU's top trade officials to Tokyo Thursday (29 June) for crucial talks to seal a long-awaited deal with Japan.
Trudeau pushes EU to apply free trade pact provisionally
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday (28 June) called on Europe to immediately apply the CETA free trade agreement while the two sides work through a final hurdle pertaining to agricultural quotas.
The Brief: Fifty shades of Justin Trudeau
Did you smell that sickly sweet aroma in the air in Brussels today? It was the waves of smug rolling in all the way from the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
After Parliament approval, final ratification could still put CETA in legal limbo
Most measures outlined in the EU's landmark free trade agreement with Canada are set to go into effect after MEPs approved the deal today (15 February), but fourteen member states can still put the deal to a referendum vote and national parliaments need to rubberstamp it—including feisty legislators in Belgium's regional Walloon Parliament.
After Wallonia’s veto on CETA, 60 academics defend EU democracy in trade
EXCLUSIVE / After the near-death experience of CETA, the controversial EU-Canada trade deal that was almost toppled by a regional government in Belgium, a group of academics has come out to defend the European decision-making process in trade policy.
Parliament committee gives CETA thumbs down
The European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee recommended on Thursday (8 December) to reject the EU-Canada trade agreement, suggesting that final adoption of the deal in the Assembly's plenary won't be plain sailing.
The Brief: Brexit boss Barnier breaks his silence
Michel Barnier, the European Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator, finally broke his two-month vow of silence today. What would the urbane Frenchman serve up to the hungry press corps?
Wallonia proposes new rules for negotiating international trade deals
The Belgian region of Wallonia, which gained worldwide notoriety by keeping the CETA agreement and an EU-Canada summit hostage for several days, unveiled the Namur Declaration on Monday (5 December), proposing a new way to negotiate international trade treaties.
CETA: Controversy over EU pressure on Wallonia
Criticised by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker during the signature of CETA, the president of Walloon party CDH, Benoît Lutgen, has repeated that there had been insinuations about negative consequences for the region if it continued to veto the trade treaty with Canada.
CETA, Wallonia and sovereignty in Europe
The chaos that followed Wallonia’s refusal to ratify CETA exposed Europe’s inability to reflect on the question of sovereignty and where it really resides, writes Amandine Crespy.
Canada cautious on CETA deal breakthrough
Belgium announced a breakthrough Thursday (27 October) to save a landmark EU-Canada free trade deal, winning over domestic holdouts who threatened to torpedo the agreement and further damage Europe's international credibility.
Belgium plans new talks to break EU-Canada trade deadlock
Belgium's political leaders are set for a new round of talks to try and resolve differences that have blocked a landmark EU-Canada free trade deal.
Belgians keep EU, Canada in suspense on CETA trade deal
Feuding Belgian politicians, keeping Canada and the European Union waiting, resume talks on Wednesday (26 October) with hopes fading that they will unblock the CETA free trade deal in time for a planned signing summit.
Tusk and Trudeau still hope to sign CETA trade deal after Belgian ‘Non’
Belgium declared yesterday (24 October) that it could not formally back a free trade deal between the European Union and Canada because of an internal dispute, but the two sides still appeared to be holding out hopes of a summit to sign off on the deal.
Belgium cannot sign CETA, PM Michel admits
Belgium is not able to sign off on a landmark EU-Canada free trade deal after Wallonia and other regional administrations refused to give the federal government the go-ahead, PrimeMinister Charles Michel said today (24 October).
Wallonia rejects EU ‘ultimatum’ over CETA
Belgium's Wallonia region yesterday (23 October) dealt a fresh blow to a proposed EU-Canada trade deal, rejecting a 24-hour ultimatum from the bloc to end its objection to the agreement.
CETA deadlock complicates EU efforts to relaunch trade policy
A Canadian minister left Brussels in tears on Friday (21 October) as Wallonia's staunch opposition to the EU-Canada agreement puts the future of new trade deals at risk.
CETA crisis deepens as Wallonia rejects new offer
The government of Wallonia last night (20 October) rejected the latest offer made by the European Commission in a bid to unblock the stalled ratification process of the EU-Canada free trade deal before the ‘hot potato’ passes to the EU leaders later on Friday.
Belgian professor: What’s wrong if CETA is signed in December?
Belgian Professor Jean-Michel de Waele slammed the European Commission for twisting the arm of Wallonia over CETA, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada.
Does CETA’s saga spell the beginning of the end of EU trade policy?
The CETA saga reveals that a commercial policy steered from the 28 capitals is not a workable solution to tackle the global economic challenges of the 21st century, write Guillaume Van der Loo and Jacques Pelkmans.
Belgian PM defends budget ahead of confidence vote
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel on Sunday (16 October) defended his budget and vision for the future after tensions within the fractious coalition government nearly sank his programme earlier in the week.
Belgian region of Wallonia blocks EU-Canada trade deal
Lawmakers in the small Belgian region of Wallonia today (14 October) voted to block an EU-Canada trade deal in a move set to have serious implications for future trade talks with the US and a non-EU UK.