People in Brussels Gather to Protest Against CETA Trade Deal

Demonstrations against the EU-Canadian Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) started in Brussels on Thursday as the European Union and Belgium reached a common position on signing the trade deal, local media reported.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the RTBF broadcaster, the first round of the manifestations, bringing together ordinary citizens and members of trade unions, is expected to last from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. local time (10:00-12:00 GMT).

The protesters are set to gather again at 5 p.m. outside the European Commission building.

The Alliance d19-20, which unites various agriculture movements and trade unions, urged "all the organizations and all the citizens to gather in front of the commission building to put pressure on [CETA] discussions," according to the broadcaster.

Anti-#CETA protest outside European Commission headquarters, after Belgium agrees to Canada-EU trade deal. pic.twitter.com/ge9k1lEoI0

— Jeff Semple (@JeffSempleGN) 27 октября 2016 г.

​Earlier in the day, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said that the European Union and Belgium had reached a common position on signing CETA trade deal.

Protest against #CETA #TTIP with pots and pans at the headquarters of the #europeancommission in #Brussels #Berlaymont pic.twitter.com/qqPJSx6lRX

— Frederik Sadones (@FrederikSadones) 27 октября 2016 г.

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Brussels and Ottawa were expected to sign the free trade deal at a joint summit on Thursday, but Belgium’s region of Wallonia refused to give the country its approval to sign the deal. Under the Belgian legislation, every region has a right to reject the accord.

CETA, if approved, would eliminate the vast majority of the existing tariffs between the European Union and Canada, but the opponents fear that it would negatively affect standards and regulations on environmental protection, health, safety and workers' rights.