The European Parliament voted, with 408 votes in favour, for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada, concluding the ratification process of this deal at the EU level.
Welcoming the outcome of the vote held in Strasbourg, President Jean-Claude Juncker said: “Today’s vote by the European Parliament is an important milestone in the democratic process of ratification of the agreement reached with Canada, and it also allows for its provisional entry into force. This trade deal has been subject to an in-depth parliamentary scrutiny which reflects the increased interest of citizens in trade policy. The intense exchanges on CETA throughout this process are testimony to the democratic nature of European decision making”.
Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said: “This vote is the start of a new era in EU-Canada relations – together we are sending a strong signal today. By building bridges rather than walls, we can face the challenges that confront our societies together. In these uncertain times, with rising protectionism around the world, CETA underlines our strong commitment to sustainable trade. Once the Canadian parliament has ratified this agreement, the next step is to put it provisionally in place, which I hope can be done swiftly and effectively. Citizens and companies on both sides of the Atlantic should start reaping these benefits very soon.”
