Canada and the European Union (EU) have “concluded negotiations on the Canada-European Union Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA)” an initiative which “sets out a framework for continued dialogue and cooperation between Canada and the European Union”, it was announced Monday (September 8) in Ottawa.
In a joint statement from Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Catherine Ashton, the two agreed “The Canada-EU relationship has never been stronger. This was confirmed once more during our discussions here in Ottawa, where we agreed to further strengthen and broaden the scope of Canada EU cooperation.”
Canada and the EU have been holding extensive negotiations on a free trade deal called the “Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement” (CETA).
CETA would give Canada access to a very large consumer market. But the deal’s critics question its impact on such domestic Canadian sectors such as the health care system.
More information:
Joint Statement by Canada and the European Union – here
Canadian Health Coalition – CETA Threats to Public Health Care in Canada (pdf) – here
Canadian Lawyer Magazine – Leaked CETA document raises concerns, questions – here
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