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BRUSSELS – Stephen Harper is meeting with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels in an apparent attempt to kick-start Canada’s stalled free-trade deal with the European Union.

It was the prime minister’s first meeting in the European capital shortly after his arrival from Poland, and took place prior to the official opening of the G7 summit.

Harper also flew to Brussels last October for a high-profile ceremony with Barroso to sign an agreement in principle on the deal.

Harper will be keen to make progress towards getting a final text of the deal, formally known as the Comprehensive Trade and Investment Agreement, or CETA.

The final text has proven elusive, with roadblocks on some major irritants that stalled the protracted four-year negotiations having reared their heads yet again.

According to EU documents, they include a disagreement over protection of intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical sector, but Canada insists the work towards a final text is on track.

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