Text tabled : A7-0321/2012

  Laima Liucija Andrikienė (PPE), in writing. − I voted in favour of the resolution on trade and economic relations with the United States. The US and the EU are very important trade partners: the two economies together account for about half of the global economic output and nearly a third of world trade flows, making this relationship the largest economic relationship in the world. Although the economic ties between the EU and the US are among the most open in the world, there is a general consensus that the potential of the transatlantic relationship is far from being fully exploited. Therefore it is important to foster the ongoing joint discussion between the EU and the US on how to work collectively to increase growth potential and financial stability. I support the rapporteur’s view that, in order to ensure long-term prosperity and employment, a joint commitment and effort is needed to create new opportunities for businesses both large and small, to promote entrepreneurship and to capitalise on the advantages offered by the uniquely integrated transatlantic market. In this regard, we, Members of the EP, emphasise that there are many areas where progress would be greatly beneficial, such as the removal of trade barriers and better market access.