REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

All 28 EU governments support the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), but Belgium cannot give assent without backing from five sub-federal administrations and French-speaking Wallonia has steadfastly opposed it. The second day of an EU leaders’ summit is expected to be dominated by consideration of the EU’s trade policy, though the discussion is likely to be overshadowed by continuing uncertainty over the EU-Canada deal. Juncker said he has invited Canada’s International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland to join talks Friday with the EU and Belgium to persuade Paul Magnette, president of the French-speaking Belgian region of Wallonia, to sign off on a deal his legislature has repeatedly rejected. While ambassadors can technically sign off on the agreement before Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau leaves for Europe next Wednesday, Monday seems to be the last possible date for ratification.
The European Union calls an emergency two-day meeting about the planned EU-Canada free trade agreement, approved by all 28 EU member governments but held up by the "non" vote in Walloonia, one of Belgium's five sub-federal administrations.