site.btaBulgaria, Romania Not Backing Off Objections to EU-Canada Trade Deal

Bulgaria, Romania Not Backing Off Objections to EU-Canada Trade Deal

Brussels/Luxembourg, October 18 (BTA Correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - Bulgaria and Romania are, for the moment, not backing off their objections to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada, a representative of the Slovakian Presidency of the Council of the EU said.

Austria, Slovenia and Germany have already withdrawn their objections. For the moment, Bulgaria and Romania are not backing off their objections while waiting to get in writing the agreements for scrapping Canada's visa requirements for their nationals reached at top level.

On Friday, the Belgian Government stated its readiness to sign the deal with Canada immediately after the regional authorities in the French-speaking region of Wallonia withdraw their objections.

The good news is that although not sprinting towards the goal, it would not be a marathon either, the representative of the Slovakian Presidency said.

EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said she will work round the clock for the signing of the agreement, including with the countries that are not yet on board. The Canadian side is showing patience, the Commissioner added.