Trade committee debate on new recommendations for TTIP talks 

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Parliament must use its influence on framing the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) rules to ensure that they serve all EU citizens  

Parliament must use its influence on framing the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) rules to ensure that they serve all EU citizens, not just a few economic players and must therefore insist that the talks are more democratic and more transparent, said trade committee chair, Bernd Lange (S&D, DE), on Wednesday

In the debate on the updated mandate for the TTIP talks, 18 months after they were launched, centre-right MEPs insisted that the EP’s demands should be drafted in more “positive terms”, focusing on “what we want” rather on “drawing new red lines”. Almost all speakers stressed the need for investor protection that does not limit the rights to regulate of either party. The need for a binding sustainable development chapter was also mentioned several times.


The House plans to adopt its recommendations, based on its assessment of the main results of the talks,in May this year. They will contain adjustments made by MEPs in the light of the new political balance following elections last year and new concerns raised by EU civil society.


The TTIP agreement has to be ratified by the European Parliament before it can enter into force.


You can watch the debate and review our Twitter live coverage via the links on the right.