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Some thoughts on Belgium’s abstention, but more so Frances vote against the US-EU FTA negotiations (thread)
In the past all EU FTAs (but two) were so-called “mixed” agreements. I.e. (to simplify) they included member state competences. If one member state voted against an FTA, it killed it.
The Singapore opinion of the CJEU has clarified the EU’s competences with regard to negotiating FTAs. EU-only FTAs are now a real option. This might have surprising side-effects.
As in the past a member state’s no vote was the end of it, a member had to think twice before voting no. It could not vote no for symbolic reasons.
Ones states move to negotiating EU only FTAs and agree to proceed without consensus, a state voting no is well aware that this does not necessarily kill the agreement. So it might very well vote no for tactical reasons even though on balance it wants the FTA.
In short - France can vote against the negotiations with the US and gather some domestic laurels for it, while also benefiting from the negotiations.
Nota bene though, this is academic musing. With the EU excluding agriculture, the US excluding state procurement and insisting on agriculture this is not going anywhere anytime soon.
