“According to my information, the European Commission is not in a position to give an outlook on the conclusion of the agreement, particularly in terms of timetable” even if rumors indicate a possible signature during the G20 on 18 November, for his part underlined Adrien Dolimont.
Who is Adrien Dolimont, the new minister-president of Wallonia?
According to the latter, the Walloon government demands the inclusion of mirror clauses in the free trade agreement and pleads for it not to be split.
“”We plead for the agricultural exception. We accept international trade but we refuse unfair practices that undermine our food sovereignty by approving products that do not meet the health, phytosanitary and environmental standards to which our farmers are subject. It is for this reason that the Walloon government is demanding the inclusion of mirror clauses in this free trade agreement,” explained the Minister-President.
“We also plead for this agreement not to be split. This process could in fact allow provisional application of the commercial aspect, in the event of an agreement by qualified majority within the Council. However, it is unthinkable that, through this legal structure, such an agreement escapes the democratic control of the parliaments of the member states,” he added.
“My government will take all necessary initiatives to make the voice of Walloon farmers heard both at the Belgian and European level, so that their interests are defended,” the liberal finally assured.
