Speech: Stronger Foundations for Europe’s Economic Future – TTIP negotiations

Text of a speech by Karel De Gucht, European Commissioner for Trade at the Trade Policy Conference – Managing the New EU Trade Policy Agenda in Copenhagen, Denmark, 19 February 2014.

In his speech, the Commissioner is talking about the benefits of a strong European Union trade policy as well as about the benefits and concerns Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the United States.

On 18 February 2014, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht met United States Trade Representative Ambassador Michael Froman in Washington D.C. to review the progress on the TTIP negotiations that were launched in July 2013. Following two days of meetings, the EU Trade Commissioner said that the negotiations had made good progress and now needed to step up a gear.

EurActiv reported on the 12 March 2014 that several US senators had wheeled into action against an European initiative that would force name changes to common cheese varieties produced in the United States.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Welcoming Remarks by EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht at the Outset of Stocktaking Meetings with United States Trade Representative Ambassador Michael Froman on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-welcoming-remarks-by-eu-trade-commissioner-karel-de-gucht-at-the-outset-of-stocktaking-meetings-with-united-states-trade-representative-ambassador-michael-froman-on-a-transatlantic-trade-an/

EurActiv, 21.02.14: EU-US trade talks seen dragging on until mid-2016 http://www.euractiv.com/trade/ttip-deadline-2016-experts-news-533668

EurActiv, 12.03.14: US Senators shocked by EU’s cheese-name claims http://www.euractiv.com/cap/us-senators-shocked-eu-cheese-na-news-534077

---