The European Parliament approved a trade agreement between the EU and Canada
BRUSSELS, 15 Feb — RIA Novosti, Maria Knyazev. MEPs, despite numerous protests of EU citizens at its plenary session on Wednesday by a majority of votes has supported economic and trade agreement between the EU with Canada (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA).
The schedule of the EP on Wednesday said that it is “final vote” for CETA. Bilateral economic and trade agreement the EU and Canada signed on October 30. It will start partially pre-applied by the EU following approval by the European Parliament. For the final entry into force will require ratification by all EU countries.
Against the agreement in Europe were mass protests. And even on Wednesday against dozens of protesters gathered in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, reports AFP. As said before, the online edition EUobserver, three and a half million citizens of the European Union put their signatures under the petition calling on the EP not to ratify CETA.
SETH when working at full force would have to cancel around 98% of the duties that currently apply to trade between EU countries and Canada. In Brussels expect that the implementation agreement will increase the trade turnover between the parties at 12 billion euros per year.