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

    Finance Minister Joe Oliver to announce Employment Insurance premium cut Thursday

    Finance Minister Joe Oliver to announce Employment Insurance premium cut Thursday
    There's a report that the Harper government will announce on Thursday that it's lowering Employment Insurance premiums.

    Finance Minister Joe Oliver to announce Employment Insurance premium cut Thursday

    Calgary Mayor Nenshi 'Shocked' By Damage From Heavy Summer Snow

    Calgary Mayor Nenshi 'Shocked' By Damage From Heavy Summer Snow
    Commuters needed hours to get to work, snow-laden tree branches groaned and snapped and thousands of people were without power Wednesday after a second major taste of winter hit Calgary with 10 days to go before summer's end.

    Calgary Mayor Nenshi 'Shocked' By Damage From Heavy Summer Snow

    Doer: Alberta Premier-designate Jim Prentice Will Have Clout In Washington

    Doer: Alberta Premier-designate Jim Prentice Will Have Clout In Washington
    Canada's ambassador to the United States says Alberta premier-designate Jim Prentice carries a lot of clout in Washington, where a parade of top federal and provincial officials have stumped in recent years for the long-stalled Keystone XL pipeline.

    Doer: Alberta Premier-designate Jim Prentice Will Have Clout In Washington

    Muclair Says Scottish Referendum Result Must Be Respected But Won't Take Sides

    Muclair Says Scottish Referendum Result Must Be Respected But Won't Take Sides
    Tom Mulcair is refusing to take sides in the nailbiter referendum on Scottish independence. But however it turns out, the NDP leader says the result will have to be respected.

    Muclair Says Scottish Referendum Result Must Be Respected But Won't Take Sides

    Bodies Of Man And Woman Found In Home But Police Not Looking For Suspects

    Bodies Of Man And Woman Found In Home But Police Not Looking For Suspects
    Two bodies have been found in a home in the northern Vancouver Island community of Port Alice.

    Bodies Of Man And Woman Found In Home But Police Not Looking For Suspects

    Unions Chide Government, Offer Financial Support To Cash-strapped B.C. Teachers

    Unions Chide Government, Offer Financial Support To Cash-strapped B.C. Teachers
    Biology teacher Marc Carmichael has gone on strike three times over his 20-year career in British Columbia's public-school system and he estimates losses of at least $5,000 per fight.

    Unions Chide Government, Offer Financial Support To Cash-strapped B.C. Teachers