Saturday, December 27, 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

    WestJet to charge fee for first checked baggage in economy fares

    WestJet to charge fee for first checked baggage in economy fares
    MONTREAL - The cost of flying is increasing for millions of Canadian passengers after WestJet Airlines announced it will start charging some economy fare customers a fee to check their first bag on flights within Canada and to the United States.

    WestJet to charge fee for first checked baggage in economy fares

    Court to hear appeals today in mass slaying of eight Bandidos bikers

    Court to hear appeals today in mass slaying of eight Bandidos bikers
    TORONTO - Arguments are set to be heard in Ontario's appeal court today for five men challenging their convictions in what's believed to be the province's largest mass slaying.

    Court to hear appeals today in mass slaying of eight Bandidos bikers

    Harper maintains hard line on foreign issues as Parliament resumes

    Harper maintains hard line on foreign issues as Parliament resumes
    OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper won't back away from tough talk over Ukraine and the terrorist activities of the so-called Islamic State.

    Harper maintains hard line on foreign issues as Parliament resumes

    B.C. Man, Reza Moazami, Convicted Of Luring Teenage Girls Into Prostitution

    B.C. Man, Reza Moazami, Convicted Of Luring Teenage Girls Into Prostitution
    VANCOUVER - A British Columbia man who lured teenage girls into prostitution has been convicted of 30 charges including human trafficking, believed to be the first such conviction in the province.

    B.C. Man, Reza Moazami, Convicted Of Luring Teenage Girls Into Prostitution

    Baird says beheading of British aid worker likely by fellow Brit is horrific

    Baird says beheading of British aid worker likely by fellow Brit is horrific
    OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says the beheading of British aid worker David Haines, likely by a fellow countryman-turned-terrorist, is a horrific atrocity by Islamic State militants.

    Baird says beheading of British aid worker likely by fellow Brit is horrific

    Mine company heads to Federal Court next month to fight rejection of B.C. mine

    Mine company heads to Federal Court next month to fight rejection of B.C. mine
    A mining company that filed two applications for judicial review of the federal government's rejection of a $1.5-billion gold and copper mine in B.C. will fight for the project in Federal Court next month.

    Mine company heads to Federal Court next month to fight rejection of B.C. mine