"CETA remains a threat for the environment and public health, and the Belgian agreement doesn’t change that. But the decision to take investment protection provisions to the European court will finally determine the legality of CETA. It’s disgraceful that it took the brave stand of two Belgian regions to achieve something that should have been done before negotiations were wrapped up," Greenpeace EU trade policy adviser Shira Stanton said, as quoted in the organization’s statement issued on Thursday.
ICS is a system of protection of investments, which allows corporations to sue governments if their investments are affected bypassing the ECJ and national courts.
Belgian agreement on #CETA. All parliaments are now able to approve by tomorrow at midnight. Important step for EU and Canada
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) 27 октября 2016 г.
CETA aims to establish a free trade zone between Canada and the European Union. In 2013, Ottawa and Brussels reached an agreement on key elements of the deal. European critics of CETA claim it would undermine standards and regulations on environmental protection, health and safety and workers' rights.
The agreement was at first blocked by the Belgium’s French-speaking region of Wallonia but on Thursday Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said that the parties had finally managed to reach consensus.
