Wednesday, December 31, 2025
ADVT 
National

Harper hosts EU leaders today for Canada-Europe summit

Darpan News Desk Canadian Press, 26 Sep, 2014 11:48 AM

    OTTAWA - Prime Minister Harper will host a summit with two top leaders from the European Union today in Ottawa.

    He'll meet with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy.

    One reason for the summit is to celebrate the end of Canada's free trade talks with the E-U, but there are still some shoals to navigate.

    The Canadian Press has learned there is persistent concern that two unhappy eastern European countries could still derail the deal.

    Canada requires a visa for travellers from Romania and Bulgaria and some diplomats fear one or both of the countries could block ratification of the agreement if the requirement is not lifted.

    Canada imposed the visa on the two countries as well as the Czech Republic to stop an influx of bogus refugee claimants among ethnic Roma applicants.

    The Czech visa requirement ended last year, but the Romanian and Bulgarian ones remain in force.

    Immigration Minister Chris Alexander has expressed concern over human smuggling and organized criminal gangs.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Several people stranded on Highway 99 near Lillooet, B.C., following mudslides

    Several people stranded on Highway 99 near Lillooet, B.C., following mudslides
    Three people have been stranded overnight on Highway 99 north of Lillooet, B.C., after their vehicles got caught between two mudslides that closed a section of the road.

    Several people stranded on Highway 99 near Lillooet, B.C., following mudslides

    Orphaned grizzly released back into the wild as part of B.C. pilot rehab project

    Orphaned grizzly released back into the wild as part of B.C. pilot rehab project
    An orphaned grizzly cub named Littlefoot has been released back into the wild in southeastern British Columbia, part of a pilot project aimed at saving bears who have come out on the losing end of interactions with humans.

    Orphaned grizzly released back into the wild as part of B.C. pilot rehab project

    Gang unit, major crimes bear brunt of B.C. Mounties' budget shortfall

    Gang unit, major crimes bear brunt of B.C. Mounties' budget shortfall
    RCMP in British Columbia will make staff cuts in a specialized gang unit and to their major crimes division to make up for a $4.2 million budget shortfall next year.

    Gang unit, major crimes bear brunt of B.C. Mounties' budget shortfall

    Johnson scores 4 as Six Nations beats Coquitlam to even Minto Cup series 2-2

    Johnson scores 4 as Six Nations beats Coquitlam to even Minto Cup series 2-2
    Josh Johnson scored four goals and assisted on two more as the Six Nations Arrows downed the Coquitlam Adanacs 10-7 in Game 4 of the Minto Cup on Wednesday.

    Johnson scores 4 as Six Nations beats Coquitlam to even Minto Cup series 2-2

    B.C. mining boom, recent tailings pond bust prompt environmental fears in Alaska

    B.C. mining boom, recent tailings pond bust prompt environmental fears in Alaska
    Heather Hardcastle has spent her life fishing for salmon at the mouth of the Taku River, which starts in a remote corner of northwestern British Columbia before dumping into the ocean near her home in Juneau, Alaska.

    B.C. mining boom, recent tailings pond bust prompt environmental fears in Alaska

    Rookie cop didn't look for signs of alcohol smell after fatal B.C. crash: trial

    Rookie cop didn't look for signs of alcohol smell after fatal B.C. crash: trial
    A Mountie who responded to a crash that killed two people says she didn't smell any alcohol on the breath of the alleged driver but that she didn't look for such signs as an inexperienced officer.

    Rookie cop didn't look for signs of alcohol smell after fatal B.C. crash: trial