Brussels removed talk of ratifying Canada trade deal in EU summit text: Wilkinson

OTTAWA — Canada’s envoy to the European Union says Brussels removed language about ratifying the decade-old trade deal from a joint statement issued at the end of the summit in Montreal last week.

Jonathan Wilkinson made the comment today at the Senate foreign-affairs committee, confirming media reports the EU had the phrasing removed.

Canada and the EU signed a new alliance pact at the summit to co-operate more deeply on matters such as energy and security.

The joint statement initially included a line speaking to the importance of member states ratifying the Canada trade deal but Wilkinson says Brussels removed that phrasing over concerns from member states that the EU should not be telling its members what to do.