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The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz made the following statement ahead of the Council adopting the negotiating mandate on Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the United States (TTIP):
"The European Parliament position on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is clear: the EU-US economic relationship should be reaffirmed and deepened. We need to realise the untapped potential of a truly integrated transatlantic market. The European Parliament wants a far-reaching negotiating mandate and will accompany the negotiations throughout. The European Parliament is convinced that an EU-US comprehensive trade and investment agreement has the potential to lead to a win-win situation and that a deeper degree of integration would considerably multiply the gains for both economies.
The deal must be in the best interest of our citizens. The European Parliament understands the need for the agreement and the boost it will give to our economies. Yet the European Parliament will remain vigilant on specific points:
Following the recent debate that was held in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, I would emphasise that the agreement should guarantee full respect for EU fundamental rights standards. The European Parliament supports a high level of protection of personal data, which should benefit consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.
The European Parliament is clear that cultural and audiovisual services, including those provided online, should be excluded and this should be clearly stated in the negotiating mandate."