WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier on Thursday, a diplomatic source in Brussels told RIA Novosti that Bulgaria and Romania may veto the EU decision on the bloc's free trade pacts with the United States and Canada due to visa regime for these countries.
"Decisions on whether or not visas are necessary do not relate to trade," Lariviere stated on Thursday. "Visa policy is not part of any of Canada’s free trade agreements."
The spokesperson explained that neither Bulgaria nor Romania meets Canada’s criteria for a visa exemption at the moment.
"Canadian officials in Ottawa and Brussels have and continue to be heavily engaged in a very positive, ongoing dialogue with Romania, Bulgaria and the European Commission on this issue," Lariviere added.
Earlier on Thursday, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released an official statement with regard to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada, expressing Bucharest's disappointment with Ottawa retaining visa requirement for Romanian citizens.
In 2013, the European Union and Canada reached the CETA deal, while the trade negotiating mandate was made public only in December 2015, sparking controversy over the extra secrecy surrounding it.
