Strasbourg, 03/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - Following Edward Snowdon's revelations about the US National Security Agency (NSA) spying on the European institutions, France and several in the European Parliament are calling for the transatlantic free-trade negotiations, due to begin in Washington on 8-12 July, to be postponed or temporarily frozen.
On Wednesday 3 July, the French government said it wished “to suspend temporarily” the free-trade negotiations with the US. “It's not a question of halting them, but it seems wise to us to suspend them temporarily for a period of two weeks in order to avoid any controversy and the time to obtain the information requested”, said French government spokesperson, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem.
During a debate in the European Parliament the same day, MEPs from the S&D and Greens/EFA Groups clearly called for the postponement of the talks, while waiting for clarification on the US spying affair. The idea was also floating in the ranks of French MEPs from the EPP and ALDE Groups.
On Tuesday, the European Commission did not believe that the spying affair should delay the start of the negotiations. “The European party will clearly state on Monday that for a negotiation as comprehensive and ambitious to succeed, trust, transparency and clarity is needed between the partners”, said Commission spokesperson, Pia Ahrenkilde.
The issue, from a legal angle, of a member state requesting the Council to delay negotiations was due to be examined informally at the Committee of Permanent Representatives' (Coreper) meeting on Thursday 4 July. (EH/transl.fl)