Belgium Reaches Agreement on CETA Deal After Days of Opposition From Wallonia

© REUTERS / Francois LenoirDemonstrators protest against CETA outside the EU summit in Brussels, Belgium, October 20, 2016.
Demonstrators protest against CETA outside the EU summit in Brussels, Belgium, October 20, 2016. - Sputnik International
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Belgium has reached a deal on the Canada-EU free trade agreement (CETA) after days of opposition from the region of Wallonia. The country is now ready to sign the deal, RTBF reported.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel and Chief European Commission spokesperson Margaritis Schinas confirmed that a deal on CETA has been reached.

An agreement has been reached, Michel told reporters after the latest round of talks.

Previously, all EU governments supported that deal except for the Belgian region of Wallonia, which has a veto power and can block the agreement.

"We have finally found an agreement among the Belgians that will now be submitted to European institutions and our European partners," head of Wallonia's government Paul Magnette said as quoted by AFP.

"Wallonia is extremely happy that our demands were heard," Magnette added.

On Friday, Canada's International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland walked out of talks on the deal saying they've reached 'an end and a failure' as she did not manage to convince Minister-President of Belgium’s region of Wallonia Paul Magnette to approve the signing of CETA.

Wallonia's socialist government head Paul Magnette (L) and European Parliament President Martin Schulz hold a joint press conference after their meeting regarding CETA (EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) at the European Parliament in Brussels on October 22, 2016 - Sputnik International
CETA: EU-Canada Trade Deal on the Rocks as Wallonia Rejects Brussels' Ultimatum
The European Council failed to approve CETA due to Wallonia's demarche last Tuesday. The European Commission set a deadline for Wallonia to approve the deal until Friday, when European leaders are expected to gather in Brussels for the European Council summit.

CETA aims to establish a free trade zone between Canada and the European Union, scrapping more than 98 percent of the existing tariffs between Ottawa and Brussels. Opponents fear it would undermine standards and regulations on environmental protection, health, safety and workers' rights.

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