- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

German Minister Calls for Legal Clarification of Sensitive Issues in CETA Talks

© Sputnik / Fabrizio BenschGerman Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel leaves after a news conference in Berlin, Germany, January 12, 2016
German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel leaves after a news conference in Berlin, Germany, January 12, 2016 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
It is necessary to make new steps toward the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), in particular, to provide for a legal clarification of important issues, German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Friday.

Protesters take part in demonstration against Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in Madrid. (File) - Sputnik International
Thousands Rally Against TTIP, CETA Deals in Protests Around Spain
BERLIN (Sputnik) An EU-Canada Summit, scheduled for October 27-28, is expected to see the CETA signed. It will still need to be ratified by some 40 national and regional EU parliaments. Fears remain that the transatlantic trade deal will water down EU standards on environment, health and food safety.

"Globalization needs fair rules, and this is exactly what we want to achieve with the help of CETA, since CETA is a good and modern arrangement, which offers us a great opportunity, together with G7 member Canada, to shape globalization, in accordance with the European values… We must now initiate the new steps in the framework of CETA and… pave the way for parliamentary debates. I am convinced that we can today lay a solid foundation for this," Gabriel said while heading for an informal a meeting of EU economic ministers in Bratislava, as quoted by his ministry.

In particular, Gabriel offered to agree on a legal statement which would include the "mutually binding clarifications on sensitive issues," such as investment protection, public services and workers' rights.

The EU-Canada free trade agreement would provide for the elimination of customs and trade restrictions, would stimulate economic growth and would help create new jobs, the German minister said.

Earlier this week, thousands of people protested in Europe and demanded Brussels to halt the EU talks with Canada on the CETA deal, as well as against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) deal between the European Union and the United States, which is currently being negotiated.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала