EP-voorzitter Schulz benadrukt voordelen van handelsakkoord EU-VS (en)

European Parliament President Martin Schulz i made the following statement after the house voted by a large majority to support the launch of talks on the Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership agreement between the European Union and the United States:

"Negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States should start as soon as possible, because a deal will bring huge benefits to both sides. Together, the EU and US account for half of the world's economic output and a third of global trade but there is still enormous potential in our economic ties.

Such an agreement will help to create high-quality jobs jobs and boost economic growth on both sides of the Atlantic without costing taxpayers any money. It will establish the world's largest free trade zone and reinvigorate transatlantic relations.

Standards adopted by the EU and US are likely to become a benchmark and should help to strengthen the multilateral trading system.

The deal must be in the best interest of our citizens. The European Parliament therefore insists on maintaininghigh standards in personal data and consumer protection as well as health and environmental protection."