MEPs ready to take stock of TTIP-talks

The European Parliament will assess the progress made in talks on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the United States in a resolution to be voted in spring 2015. This decision has been taken by EP political groups represented by coordinators in the International Trade committee (INTA).

"There is agreement on both sides of the Atlantic that we need to breathe new life into the TTIP-talks. It is our responsibility as democratically elected representatives to make our position on and vision for these negotiations known, in order to ensure a successful fresh start. That's why we will soon come forward with a new position taking into account the progress achieved so far, the insights gathered in the public consultation on investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS) in TTIP as well as Commissioner Malmström's plans for a fresh start in the talks", explained chair of INTA committee Bernd Lange (S&D, DE).

Mr Lange, the EP's standing rapporteur on TTIP, will be in the lead on the new TTIP-resolution. He stressed that the INTA committee will scrutinize the new EU trade commissioner’s views on how to proceed in the negotiations. Cecilia Malmström is expected to present her trade agenda priorities during the next INTA-meeting in December.

The resolution led by the EP's Trade committee will take on board other EP committee's opinions focussing on specialised aspects covered by the TTIP.

The plenary vote on the resolution is tentatively foreseen for March 2015.