(Strasburg) The debate in progress at the European Parliament on the trade agreement with Canada (CETA) is polarising political parties and dividing MEPs. Several MEPs say CETA is a great opportunity for EU economic growth and employment; others point out all its possibly negative aspects, from GMO invasion, to hormone meat and loss of jobs. The figures mentioned by the first and the second are totally different (“it is a dialogue of the deaf”, says a MEP). “CETA – says a note by the press office of the EU parliament – will eliminate duties on most of goods and services, and will open the market of public contracts in Canada to European companies. To reassure citizens about excessive power given to multinational companies, the EU and Canada explicitly confirmed the right of States to recur to national laws”. Among other things, at a time of US possible protectionism, CETA is meant di intensify bilateral cooperation with Canada for several questions other than business, “such as foreign and security policy, struggle against terrorism, fight against racquet, sustainable development, research and culture”.