Europe

Belgian region: unable to clear EU-Canada trade deal by Mon

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel holds a press conference on the second day of the EU summit in Brussels, Friday, Oct. 21, 2016. The European Union was scrambling Friday to salvage a massive free trade deal with Canada that was being held up by a small region in Belgium. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) (The Associated Press)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel answers a question from the media during the final press briefing at the EU Summit in Brussels, Friday, Oct. 21, 2016. The European Union's attempt to finalize a massive free trade deal with Canada remained in limbo Friday, with the tiny Belgian region that's holding up the pact saying its objections had not yet been sufficiently addressed. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016 file photo, protestors hold an Anti-CETA banner during a demonstration against international trade agreements in Brussels. The European Union's executive on Monday, Oct. 24, 2016 called for patience in an attempt to save a free trade deal with Canada and dismissed a Monday night deadline for a small Belgian region to provide its vital signature to the deal. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, FIle) (The Associated Press)

The leader of the legislature of a small Belgian region that's holding up a free trade deal between the European Union and Canada says the deal cannot be met by a Monday deadline.

The EU and Canada want to sign the deal at an official summit in Brussels on Thursday but the meeting will be cancelled if the region of Wallonia withholds its approval. The deal needs unanimity among the 28 EU nations and Belgium is the only approval lacking since it needs the backing of all its regions.

Andre Antoine, the head of the Wallonia legislature, said on RTL network that "no, it will not be possible" to back the deal on Monday, arguing there are too many outstanding issues.