Jean-Claude Juncker: CETA free trade deal could be agreed in a few days
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said he hopes the EU will reach an agreement on a free trade deal with Canada "in a few days".
Mr Juncker said politicians had been working hard on the CETA agreement through the night during the EU leaders' summit in Brussels, and added that he has high hopes for a fruitful resolution.
"I hope that we will be able to see an agreed settlement in a few days with the Wallonians, because I believe that this CETA agreement is the best agreement that we have ever been able to negotiate to date," he said.
Mr Juncker also said a CETA agreement would enable Canadian visa restrictions to be lifted for Bulgarian and Romanian citizens.
"We have a proposal now in place which will mean that the visa obligations will be removed for Romanians and Bulgarians by December 1 2017," he said.
"The liberalisation of visas will only work if we have an agreement between the EU and Canada - if the trade agreement is adopted."
Mr Juncker added: "I am confident there will be an agreement, and secondly, our Romanian and Bulgarian friends will be able to gain the visa rights they're entitled to."