Answer given by Ms Malmström on behalf of the European Commission

16.8.2018

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) does not contain any commitments on services concessions and as a result it also does not contain any exception for services concessions such as of water treatment. The reason is that such an exception would be redundant where there is from the outset no commitment to which it might apply.

Note 3 to CETA Annex 19-5 constitutes a commitment by the EU to take up negotiations with Canada, if Canada so requests, with a view to extending the mutual coverage of all services commitments that fall within the remit of the EU’s procurement Directives.

In this regard, the European Commission would also draw the Honourable Member’s attention to the Joint Interpretative Instrument on CETA, and in particular to Point 4 thereof.