The Walloons "set up’’ the EU

It seems that Russia should not be seriously concerned with further tightening of the sanctions by the EU. And it is not due to the fact that Brussels has drifted away from its positions on the Ukrainian or Syrian conflict. The fact is that the process of decision-making in the European Union is so complicated and decentralized at the moment, that it is becoming increasingly difficult for European countries to have a common position. If foreign opponents benefit from this, partners are suffering. This problem is not new, but the story of stalled CETA, which is closely watched on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, has clearly highlighted the flaws of the pan-European political structure.

The long-term negotiations between EU and Canada have failed utterly and completely, because Belgium did not sign the agreement. Previously, the EU chose a mixed system of decision-making, where a decision is adopted with a participation of the national parliaments of the separate EU countries. The Belgian government was eager to sign the agreement, if not for the ‘rebellious’ Walloon region, the representatives of which refused to sign the agreement and blocked this decision in the regional parliament. This decision was taken by the Walloons, among other things, because of the domestic political situation in Belgium. The decisive role was played by both the nationalist and left-wing anti-globalization sentiments in the region, as well as the local business’ concerns of a competition with the Canadian exports.

In the end, the regional parliament, representing 3.5 million Walloons, vetoed the agreement, affecting the interests of more than 500 million citizens living in the EU. How such actions correspond to the principles of democracy is a question that is many European politicians ask.

Manfred Weber

‘’Decisions on the trade policy issues with 38 parliaments participating, including regional ones, have nothing to do with democracy and transparency," a representative of the conservative People's Party faction in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber, said. The President of the European Parliament’s Martin Schulz tried to resolve the encountered problems in a ‘manual mode’, but despite the negotiations held with the Walloon politicians, the parties have failed to agree.

Martin Schulz

Thus, the EU-Canada summit scheduled for Thursday, although has not been canceled, actually lost any meaning. It is a mere tribute to the friendly relations, an attempt not to aggravate the already serious contradictions. The EU's image of a reliable business partner has been irreparably damaged, and senior Canadian officials have stressed this fact with an unconcealed irritation.

Chrystia Freeland

Canadian Trade Minister, Chrystia Freeland, noted that Canada, unlike Europeans, ‘’has done its homework’’. A financial expert of the Green Party,  Dirk-Oliver Heckmann, said that this situation is tragicomic. "The fact that a small region is able to block a decision of the EU Council, is a negative characteristic of the EU's ability to act. This means that we have to change a decision-making structure,’’ the expert believes.

Nobody is ready to predict the fate of CETA. The EU and Canada are planning to continue the negotiations until the agreement is reached. Regardless of this, the challenges the European Union has been facing, have not disappeared. The consolidation of the society and the development of an effective system of decision making in the field of economics, trade, foreign and military policy is an existential question. The future of the European project depends on the resolution of this issue.