Press conference on transparency (TTIP, trade agreements) by Cecilia Malmström and Bernd Lange

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• published: 26 Nov 2014
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EN - EP/EC press conference - Press conference by Cecilia MALMSTRÖM, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, and Bernd LANGE (S&D;, DE) , Chair of the International Trade Committee on Transparency in Trade (TTIP, Trade Agreements, ...) - 25.11.2014 - Strasbourg. Background press statement: "Opening the windows: Commission commits to enhanced transparency - Strasbourg, 25 November 2014 The European Commission today gave a boost to transparency by committing to publishing information about who meets its political leaders and senior officials and to providing greater access to documents relating to the negotiations for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the United States. In its very first weeks in office, the Juncker Commission is making good on the President's promise of a more open and transparent Commission, signalling a new approach for the next five years. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: "We could do the best possible work but it will be worth nothing if we do not earn the support and trust of the citizens we are working for. So let us be more transparent, because in fact we have nothing to hide. Let us show that this time it really is different and that together we are able to really change and renew Europe." (...) Enhanced transparency in TTIP The Commission also adopted a Communication from Commissioner Malmström outlining how more transparency will be injected into the negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The Commission considers it vital to ensure that the general public has accurate and full information of the EU's intentions in the negotiations, to address the concerns and to evacuate misperceptions. "We want to consult even more extensively on TTIP," said Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, "and be even more transparent, so we can show clearly what the negotiations are about and de-mystify them. We'll use this as a basis to engage further with stakeholders and the public." Actions put forth by the Commission to enhance transparency in the TTIP negotiations include: making public more EU negotiating texts that the Commission already shares with Member States and Parliament; providing access to TTIP texts to all Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), not just a select few, by extending the use of a 'reading room' to those MEPs who had no access to restricted documents so far; classifying less TTIP negotiating documents as "EU restricted", making them more easily accessible to MEPs outside the reading room; publishing and updating on a regular basis a public list of TTIP documents shared with the European Parliament and the Council. (...)" Read more: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-2131_en.htm © Frédérick Moulin 2014 - EU2014 - All rights reserved.