German court approves Canada-EU trade deal

AFP, KARLSRUHE, Germany: Germany's top court on Thursday gave the government the go-ahead to approve a planned EU-Canada free trade deal, in a setback for activists who had sought to block the agreement.
The Constitutional Court did set certain conditions however, stipulating that Germany may only commit to the so-called CETA deal if it wins assurances that it can quit the accord later if told to do so by the court.
Some 200,000 citizens, campaigners and leftist politicians had asked the court in the southwestern city of Karlsruhe to rule against the pact, arguing that the process had been undemocratic because no approval was given by parliament.
But judges said the plaintiffs would not suffer any "serious disadvantages" if the deal was provisionally approved.
The ruling, which followed an emergency hearing on Wednesday, paves the way for the government to formally endorse CETA at an EU ministers' meeting on October 18.

 

German court approves Canada-EU trade deal

AFP, KARLSRUHE, Germany: Germanys top court on Thursday gave the government the go-ahead to approve a planned EU-Canada free trade deal, in a setback for activists who had sought to block the agreement. The Constitutional Court did set certain conditions however, stipulating that Germany may only commit to the so-called CETA deal if it wins assurances that it can quit the accord later if told to do so by the court. Some 200,000 citizens, campaigners and leftist politicians had asked the court in the southwestern city of Karlsruhe to rule against the pact, arguing that the process had been undemocratic because no approval was given by parliament. But judges said the plaintiffs would not suffer any serious disadvantages if the deal was provisionally approved. The ruling, which followed an emergency hearing on Wednesday, paves the way for the government to formally endorse CETA at an EU ministers meeting on October 18.