Today’s publication of the EU proposals for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership underline not just the wide benefits of such a deal, but also the European Commission’s willingness to increase transparency surrounding the talks, according to Emma McClarkin MEP, eurorealist European Conservatives and Reformists Group trade spokesman.

Today’s publication of the EU proposals for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership underline not just the wide benefits of such a deal, but also the European Commission’s willingness to increase transparency surrounding the talks, according to Emma McClarkin MEP, eurorealist European Conservatives and Reformists Group trade spokesman.

The Commission has, for the first time, published a number of its proposals for legal text to be included in the agreement with the USA. They include proposals relating to food safety, small and medium sized businesses, and technical barriers. The commission has also published position papers on issues such as vehicles and engineering.

Emma McClarkin welcomed the news and said that the commission is taking the right steps to allay concerns that TTIP is being negotiated ‘behind closed doors’, as often espoused by opponents of free trade.

She said:

“The European Commission has secured two victories here: it has increased transparency surrounding these trade negotiations, and it has demonstrated just how many areas would benefit from a well balanced agreement with the USA.

“Those of us who want to see an ambitious and balanced TTIP agreement must allay any fears that opponents of open trade seek to stir up. The commission has taken a positive step to addressing those concerns that these talks were only being conducted behind closed doors. Of course, we must negotiate in the room and not through cameras and newspapers, but we should seek to be as open as we can about the positions we are putting on the table, and the benefits that this deal will bring to workers, consumers and employers.”

View the texts at http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=1230