Negotiations were held in Brussels this week. The second round of negotiations for a broad economic partnership agreement between Canada and the European Union took place in Brussels from January 18 to 22.
The economic partnership project between Canada and the European Union first came about in 2007, after Québec Premier Jean Charest launched the idea at the Davos International Forum. The future partnership will have attractive economic outcomes for Québec and all of Canada since the European Union is their second largest trading partner. Reciprocally, the partnership could also prove extremely promising for Europe in that it would provide access to the North American market.
Negotiators for the Canadian government are accompanied by negotiators representing Canada’s provinces and territories. It is well known that the provinces and territories are highly involved in this project since several of the topics under negotiation fall directly within their jurisdiction.
During the Canada – European Union Summit held last May in Prague, it was agreed to move ahead quickly with negotiations. Other rounds are scheduled in Ottawa this coming April and in Brussels in July.
CEPS organized a breakfast–conference for the occasion:
Friday, January 22
from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m.
1, Place du Congrès – 1000 Brussels
Speakers included Mauro Petriccione, head negotiator for the European Union, Steve Verheul, head negotiator for the Canadian government, the Honourable Roy MacLaren, President of the Canada-Europe Roundtable for Business, and Adrian van den Hoven, Director of International Affairs of BusinessEurope.
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