International

The SP is pleased that member states’ national parliaments will after all be able to participate in the decision about the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada. European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has agreed, under massive public pressure, to proceed on the basis of a ‘mixed treaty’ or ‘shared competence’, which means that the agreement of all twenty-eight of the member states’ national parliaments is required before the treaty is approved.

SP Euro-MP Anne-Marie Mineur described the decision as “a good first step”, but remains far from content. “This treaty would have an enormous impact on our society,” she says, “and it has been completed under the greatest secrecy. It’s right that it is going to be discussed at the national level. Opposition continues to grow across society, so I hope that our own national parliament is listening to what's going on and votes to reject the treaty. If not, then the people can demand a referendum.”

Mineur isn’t happy about the fact that the treaty may already be in provisional force, without the agreement of the national parliaments. “Why can’t we simply debate this treaty with MPs from all sides?” she asks. “That’s how democracy works. It takes time, but that’s what has to happen if the European Union wants support for its plans. If Commission president Juncker doesn’t want that then it speaks volumes about the confidence he has in the treaty.”