BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — Organizers estimate that between 10,000 and 15,000 demonstrators gathered in Brussels’ European Quarter that is home to the European parliament, Commission and EU Council.
Local trade unions, environmental groups and Canadian farmers demanded that Europe halt talks with Canada on the CETA deal that seeks to liberalize trade. They argue that it will water down food, environment and job protections.
An EU-Canada Summit, scheduled for October 27-28, is expected to see the controversial Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement signed. It will still need to be ratified by some 40 national and regional EU parliaments.
EU leaders have been pushing for a trade deal with Canada as prospects for a similar agreement with the United States began to fade. German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said in August that the US-EU TTIP pact had collapsed. A new round of talks on it is planned for October 3.
