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Voting session in the European Parliament, 15 February 2017. FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP

French MPs are voting on Tuesday, July 23 on the ratification of Ceta, the economic and trade agreement between the European Union and Canada. To enter into full force, the controversial text must be ratified by all the regional and national Parliaments of the future Free Trade Area.

On the European soil, thirteen states have already ratified the agreement. Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, United Kingdom and Sweden.

The two assemblies of Canada signed it as early as 2017.

Of those who have not yet approved Ceta, Italy is talking a lot about it. Deputy Prime Minister Luigi di Maio has already promised the agricultural confederation that the agreement will not pass. This is not the only country where farmers are worried: this is also the case in France but also in Ireland, Poland or Belgium where legislative work has not yet begun.

For those who have already ratified or are preparing to do so, it does not change much. Ceta has already provisionally entered into force throughout Europe and Canada two years ago, before national ratifications.

The only issue still outstanding is the one on arbitration tribunals between states and investors. It will be necessary to wait for the ratification by all the national and regional Parliaments so that its application is total. On the other hand, if one State does not ratify the text, Italy for example, Ceta - in its current form at least - will fall into the water.

► See also: EU-Canada Trade Treaty: who benefits from Ceta?