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| German top court backs EU-Canada trade deal Ceta | German top court backs EU-Canada trade deal Ceta |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Germany's Constitutional Court has rejected a legal challenge to the EU-Canada free trade deal (Ceta) from campaigners who call it undemocratic. | Germany's Constitutional Court has rejected a legal challenge to the EU-Canada free trade deal (Ceta) from campaigners who call it undemocratic. |
| The campaigners object to the fact that parts of Ceta will be implemented before all national parliaments in the EU have voted on it. | The campaigners object to the fact that parts of Ceta will be implemented before all national parliaments in the EU have voted on it. |
| EU trade ministers are to decide on Ceta next Tuesday. If they all approve it, the deal can be signed with Canada on 27 October. | EU trade ministers are to decide on Ceta next Tuesday. If they all approve it, the deal can be signed with Canada on 27 October. |
| Ceta would remove many trade barriers. | Ceta would remove many trade barriers. |
| It would be the EU's most comprehensive trade deal to date, and the negotiations have taken seven years. | It would be the EU's most comprehensive trade deal to date, and the negotiations have taken seven years. |
| More than 125,000 people signed a petition organised by three activist groups aimed at blocking Ceta, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. The groups are Campact, Foodwatch and More Democracy. | |
| 'Race to the bottom' | 'Race to the bottom' |
| Opponents fear that Ceta will be used as a model to push through an even more controversial EU-US trade deal called TTIP, much of which remains to be negotiated. | Opponents fear that Ceta will be used as a model to push through an even more controversial EU-US trade deal called TTIP, much of which remains to be negotiated. |
| The activists argue that Ceta and similar deals put job security and social welfare at risk, in a global "race to the bottom" that serves the interests of a wealthy elite. | The activists argue that Ceta and similar deals put job security and social welfare at risk, in a global "race to the bottom" that serves the interests of a wealthy elite. |
| Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned on Thursday that "if Europe cannot manage to sign this agreement, then that sends a very clear message not just to Europeans but to the whole world that Europe is choosing a path that is not productive, either for its citizens or for the world, and that would be a shame". | Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned on Thursday that "if Europe cannot manage to sign this agreement, then that sends a very clear message not just to Europeans but to the whole world that Europe is choosing a path that is not productive, either for its citizens or for the world, and that would be a shame". |
| German Economy Minister and Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has battled to win his Social Democrats (SPD) round to Ceta. The SPD is in government with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), who strongly support Ceta. | German Economy Minister and Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has battled to win his Social Democrats (SPD) round to Ceta. The SPD is in government with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), who strongly support Ceta. |
| Mr Gabriel said he was happy with Thursday's court ruling. Ceta, he said, would act as "protection against having a bad deal with the US". | Mr Gabriel said he was happy with Thursday's court ruling. Ceta, he said, would act as "protection against having a bad deal with the US". |
| Some British politicians see Ceta as a good basis for a post-Brexit UK trade deal with the EU. The UK can vote for Ceta while it remains a full EU member. | Some British politicians see Ceta as a good basis for a post-Brexit UK trade deal with the EU. The UK can vote for Ceta while it remains a full EU member. |
| Ceta does not involve EU-style free movement of labour. But for services - 80% of the UK economy - the Ceta terms are less favourable than what they have now. | Ceta does not involve EU-style free movement of labour. But for services - 80% of the UK economy - the Ceta terms are less favourable than what they have now. |
| Would Ceta be a good model for the UK? | Would Ceta be a good model for the UK? |
| The judges in Karlsruhe did not, however, exclude the possibility of Ceta hitting obstacles in Germany in future. | The judges in Karlsruhe did not, however, exclude the possibility of Ceta hitting obstacles in Germany in future. |
| By signing Ceta, they said, the government can only fast-track the deal's EU-wide provisions. Areas of national responsibility - such as intellectual property, maritime transport and commercial arbitration - must await parliamentary approval. | By signing Ceta, they said, the government can only fast-track the deal's EU-wide provisions. Areas of national responsibility - such as intellectual property, maritime transport and commercial arbitration - must await parliamentary approval. |
| A new Investment Court System (ICS) - one of the most controversial issues - cannot be set up until Ceta is ratified by all EU parliaments, they said. | A new Investment Court System (ICS) - one of the most controversial issues - cannot be set up until Ceta is ratified by all EU parliaments, they said. |
| At a glance: Ceta | At a glance: Ceta |
| European Parliament briefing on Ceta | European Parliament briefing on Ceta |
| Doubts remain about whether Belgium will back Ceta. All six governments in Belgium - national and regional - have to approve it, but there is opposition in the French-speaking Wallonia region. | Doubts remain about whether Belgium will back Ceta. All six governments in Belgium - national and regional - have to approve it, but there is opposition in the French-speaking Wallonia region. |
| Mr Gabriel said the opponents were mixing up Ceta with TTIP. The EU negotiated safeguards for public services, Europe's cultural heritage and the cherished precautionary principle, he said. | Mr Gabriel said the opponents were mixing up Ceta with TTIP. The EU negotiated safeguards for public services, Europe's cultural heritage and the cherished precautionary principle, he said. |
| The EU's precautionary principle means extensive risk assessments have to be carried out before a chemical or medicine can be marketed. In the US, the onus is on proving that a substance is hazardous before it can be withdrawn from sale. | The EU's precautionary principle means extensive risk assessments have to be carried out before a chemical or medicine can be marketed. In the US, the onus is on proving that a substance is hazardous before it can be withdrawn from sale. |
| Many politicians and business leaders argue that Ceta will provide a much-needed economic boost, reducing bureaucracy and creating jobs. | Many politicians and business leaders argue that Ceta will provide a much-needed economic boost, reducing bureaucracy and creating jobs. |
| Prime Minister Trudeau asked: "If in a week or two we see that Europe is unable to sign a progressive trade agreement with a country like Canada, well, then with whom will Europe think that it can do business in the years to come?" | Prime Minister Trudeau asked: "If in a week or two we see that Europe is unable to sign a progressive trade agreement with a country like Canada, well, then with whom will Europe think that it can do business in the years to come?" |