PURPOSE: to conclude the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada, of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.
BACKGROUND: in accordance with a Council Decision, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada, of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part, was signed and subject to its conclusion at a later date.
Pursuant to Article 218(7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, it is appropriate for the Council to authorise the Commission to approve modifications to Annex 20-A of the Agreement to be adopted by the CETA Joint Committee.
It is now necessary to conclude this Comprehensive Agreement on behalf of the Union.
CONTENT: under this proposal, it is proposed that the Council approve the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada, of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part, on behalf of the Union.
Objectives of the Agreement: CETA is a comprehensive trade and investment agreement which contains provisions on:
- national treatment and market access for goods,
- trade remedies,
- technical barriers to trade,
- sanitary and phytosanitary measures,
- customs and trade facilitation,
- subsidies,
- investment,
- cross-border trade in services,
- transparency and dispute settlement, etc.
Trade objective: CETA will significantly improve business opportunities for European companies in Canada. It will not change EU standards. Standards and regulations related to food safety, product safety, consumer protection, health, environment, social or labour standards etc. will remain untouched.
All imports from Canada will have to satisfy all EU product rules and regulations – without exception.
Other important provisions relating to customs duties, services, public procurement and sustainable development are provided (please refer to the summary of the Commission's initial proposal of 5.7.2016 for further information).
Joint Committee and interpretation provisions: the Agreement provides for the creation of a CETA Joint Committee that will continuously monitor the implementation, operation and impact of this agreement. The CETA Joint Committee is comprised of representatives of the European Union and representatives of Canada who will meet once a year or at the request of a Party and will supervise the work of all specialised committees and other bodies established under this Agreement.
Modifications to Annex 20-A of the Agreement through decisions of the CETA Joint Committee shall be approved by the Commission on behalf of the Union.
It is also stated that if an opposition is received in the framework of the examination carried out under Article 20.19.1, and no agreement can be reached between interested parties, the Commission shall adopt its position in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 57(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs.