Lobbying against free trade deal with Canada

The deputy ombudsman in charge of future generations, Marcel Szabó and representatives of civil organisations called on Hungary’s government not to sign a planned free trade agreement (CETA) between the European Union and Canada.

Addressing a conference organised by the ombudsman’s office, the National Council for Sustainable Development and the National Society of Conservationists, Szabó asked the government to turn to the European Court and ask for a review of the planned treaty with Canada.

He said problematic issues in the draft included the spreading of GMO, procedures of potential disputes between investors and states and the agreement taking temporary effect before its ratification. Szabó said the agreement is not in line with criteria approved by Hungarian lawmakers in June on free trade agreements and it is also unconstitutional.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade László Szabó told parliament’s sustainable development committee on Monday that the CETA free trade deal with Canada would create far better conditions for Hungary than its current bilateral agreement with Canada.

At the end of September, Minister of State for Security Policy and International Cooperation in the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, István Mikola stated his view that CETA would be favorable for Hungary.