The parliamentary groups of SPD, Greens and FDP want to get the CETA trade agreement between the EU and Canada through the Bundestag. This was announced by representatives of the three coalition factions on Thursday in Berlin. To do this, however, they want to make improvements to the agreement that has already been negotiated. According to Green Party leader Katharina Dröge, this is about the regulations on investor arbitration courts, which should be “defused”. These bodies are designed to deal with complaints from investors. However, corporations should not be able to use these instruments in such a way that they could put pressure on environmental regulations, said Dröge.
Ceta has been in force for the time being since September 21, 2017 – but only in those areas for which the EU alone is undoubtedly responsible and not its member states. The other parts are on hold pending ratification. In the EU, there is still no approval from twelve countries, including Germany. Canada and the EU themselves have yet to ratify Ceta. Therefore, nothing changes with the agreement between the traffic light factions. The Greens in particular had previously had concerns, for example about a special right of corporations to take legal action provided for in the agreement.
According to Green Party leader Dröge, the planned changes would not mean that the entire ratification process would have to be rolled out. “The ratification process does not have to be interrupted,” she said. All that is needed is a majority among the EU states and the consent of the EU as a whole and of Canada.
“The breakthrough at Ceta has been made,” said SPD parliamentary group leader Verena Hubertz. Trade is important, especially with a liberal democracy like Canada, said FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr. “Free trade with the democracies of the world is more important than ever.”