Parliament's role in the setting-up of a transatlantic cooperation council to deal with regulatory matters under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)

4.11.2014

Question for written answer E-008701-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Marielle de Sarnez (ALDE)

As part of the negotiations on a transatlantic partnership, EU and US negotiators have been discussing the setting-up of a transatlantic cooperation council whose remit would be to bring about closer regulatory harmonisation between the signatories.

Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which deals with international agreements, stipulates that all commercial agreements negotiated by the Commission must be approved by Parliament and the Council. The article also states that Parliament must be kept immediately and fully informed at all stages of the procedure. The Commission is thus required to inform Parliament of all developments which follow on from the signing of the agreement and which may affect relations between the parties concerned.

Does the Commission intend to involve Parliament in the discussions on setting up a cooperation council?