Raf Casert

About the Writer

13Articles Written

Belgium reaches CETA deal

Published on: Thursday, October 27th, 2016

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel arrives for an ALDE group pre-EU summit meeting in Brussels on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) BRUSSELS — A landmark free trade...

CETA deal creeps closer to the finish line

Published on: Wednesday, October 26th, 2016

Minister-President of Wallonia, Paul Magnette, speaks with the media during a break in a meeting at the Belgium Prime Minister's residence in Brussels, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Thierry Monasse)...

EU chief says trade deal with Canada 'still possible'

Published on: Wednesday, October 26th, 2016

BRUSSELS — In a race against the clock, the European Union was edging closer to being able to sign a free trade deal with Canada on Thursday after Belgium made...

Belgium urged to break EU-Canada trade deadlock by Monday

Published on: Sunday, October 23rd, 2016

BRUSSELS – If Belgium cannot break a deadlock over the European Union's landmark free deal with Canada by Monday night, EU leaders will consider cancelling a signing ceremony scheduled for...

International Monetary Fund agrees to $17.5B bailout for Ukraine

Published on: Thursday, February 12th, 2015

BRUSSELS - The International Monetary Fund has agreed to give Ukraine a new bailout deal worth 15.5 billion euro ($17.5 billion) that could climb to around $40 billion over four...

EU delays further sanctions against Russia until after Wednesday summit

Published on: Monday, February 9th, 2015

BRUSSELS - The European Union decided Monday to temporarily hold off slapping sanctions on more Ukrainian separatists and Russians pending the outcome of possible peace talks this week. With the...

After radical left-wing win in Greece, eurozone leaders open to dialogue

Published on: Monday, January 26th, 2015

BRUSSELS - For a man long seen as the eurozone's worst nightmare, Alexis Tsipras has had a smooth first day as prime minister of Greece. The firebrand left-winger wants fellow eurozone...

Britain claims victory in $2.7B budget feud with EU

Published on: Friday, November 7th, 2014

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Britain claimed victory on Friday in its standoff with the European Union over a €2.1-billion ($2.7-billion) budget contribution, saying it was able to delay and reduce payment....