Belgium refused to sign the trade partnership between the European Union and Canada during the sitting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, thus blocking the abolishment of Canada’s visa regime for Bulgarian nationals. The Belgian cabinet refused to sign that agreement due to objections from Wallonia Province and the socialist party of that country. Belgium was not the only EU country that was against the Canada-EU agreement. However, the other five countries, including Bulgaria and Romania, negotiated separately with Canada and are ready to withdraw their objections. Bulgaria agreed to sign that agreement, if Canada lifted the visa regime for Bulgarian nationals. Official Sofia negotiated with Ottawa that Canada would lift gradually the visa regime for Bulgarian citizens starting on May 1, 2017.