Abstract

This article analyses the impact that the Comprehensive Trade and Economic Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada might have on the European energy sector once concluded by the Parties. While the CETA should contribute to boost the cooperation among governments, this shouldn't happen for the cooperation between enterprises. Indeed, the investment chapter of the CETA shouldn't allow a higher degree of openness to foreign investments between its Parties in the energy industry, which is considered a strategic sector both in the EU and in Canada. The article tries to suggest a solution to this problem from the European side. The considerations on the treatment of the energy sector provided by the CETA and on the investment chapter included in this agreement may be doubly useful. On the one hand, to better understand the relation among the new free trade agreements that the EU is negotiating with third countries and the protection of strategic industries, on the other, to have some guidelines to analyse the other treaties in negotiation as the TTIP with the USA.