Dynamisation of international trade cooperation. Powers and limits of Joint Committees in CETA
1. Introduction On 30 October 2016, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Presidents of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, signed the ‘Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement’ (CETA) between the EU and Canada.[1] After the signature of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement[2] on 4 February 2016...
The provisional application of CETA: Selected issues
1. Introduction The application of international treaties on a provisional basis is a common practice in international law. It is governed by Article 25 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT), according to which it may extend to a treaty as a whole, or to parts of it, as agreed by the...
Is CETA keeping up with the promise? Interpreting certain provisions relating to Biotechnology
1. Introduction The picture of a Trojan horse, wrapped in banners reading STOP CETA, best portrays the fears underpinning the public opposition to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Canada (CETA). The main suspicion is that the technical jargon of the economic transatlantic deal, hailed as beneficial for EU consumers, could insidiously be used...
Formal and informal modification of treaties before their entry into force: What scope for amending CETA?
1. Introduction The Wallonian incident[1] arguably represented the height of controversy concerning the introduction of an investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS)[2] mechanism within the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union (CETA).[3] A few days before the date agreed for the signature of the treaty, Belgium has created a standoff, after the...
