Trade deal requires ‘EU unanimity’

THE Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association leader Jackie Cahill has claimed that the approval of any world trade deal requires European Union unanimity in accordance with a Court of Justice decision back in 1994.

As the drive to reach a deal intensifies in the negotiations, the association president said the Court of Justice ruling is identical to the unanimity rule regarding harmonisation of taxes.

“Ireland must make it clear at all possible stages and in every forum that we will be insisting that approval will require unanimity.