Strasbourg, 10/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - Before meeting US President Barack Obama in Washington on Monday 9 March, European Council President Donald Tusk said he believed that obtaining the free trade agreement between the EU and US (TTIP) “will not be as difficult as people think”.
“As well as increasing our mutual prosperity, TTIP will keep America and Europe strong in the world. The result must be balanced. And we must bring the public on both sides of the Atlantic with us”, Tusk stated.
On 4 March, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed her desire to conclude an agreement by the end of 2015, stating that the European Council has been “very clear” on this deadline. However, European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström had said at the start of January that only the “skeleton” of an agreement could be ready by the end of the year.
The eighth round of negotiations on the technical level was held in Brussels on 2-6 February (see EUROPE 11248). The next round will take place in the US in April. (Emmanuel Hagry)