[LINK] "Visa obstacle looms as Harper heralds end of Canada EU free-trade talks"
Mike Blanch field at MacLean's reports that Romanian and Bulgarian upset with Canadian visa policies might hinder the passage of the Canada-EU free trade agreement.
As Prime Minister Stephen Harper prepares to celebrate the end of Canada’s free-trade negotiations with Europe on Friday, there is persistent concern that two unhappy eastern European countries could still derail the deal.
Canada requires a visa for travellers from Romania and Bulgaria and some European diplomats worry that one or both of the countries could block ratification of the agreement if the requirement is not lifted, The Canadian Press has learned.
Harper is to host European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy for a Canada-EU summit Friday in Ottawa.
The event is being touted as a victory lap in what has been a protracted five years of negotiation of the wide-ranging trade and investment pact with Europe, known as CETA.
But one western diplomat, close to the talks, says the Romanian and Bulgarian visa issue remains an irritant.
“There is still a problem with the Romanians and Bulgarians. Canada requires a visa for them, which upsets them a lot,” said the diplomat, who agreed to discuss the matter on the condition they not be identified.
As Prime Minister Stephen Harper prepares to celebrate the end of Canada’s free-trade negotiations with Europe on Friday, there is persistent concern that two unhappy eastern European countries could still derail the deal.
Canada requires a visa for travellers from Romania and Bulgaria and some European diplomats worry that one or both of the countries could block ratification of the agreement if the requirement is not lifted, The Canadian Press has learned.
Harper is to host European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy for a Canada-EU summit Friday in Ottawa.
The event is being touted as a victory lap in what has been a protracted five years of negotiation of the wide-ranging trade and investment pact with Europe, known as CETA.
But one western diplomat, close to the talks, says the Romanian and Bulgarian visa issue remains an irritant.
“There is still a problem with the Romanians and Bulgarians. Canada requires a visa for them, which upsets them a lot,” said the diplomat, who agreed to discuss the matter on the condition they not be identified.