A draft interim report on the trade agreement being negotiated between the EU and the United States was published on 13th May 2016. The report was commissioned by the European Commission and carried out by an independent consultant, Ecorys. Ecorys is an international company providing research, consultancy and management service specializing in economic, social and spatial development.
The technical report is a Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) highlighting the opportunities that a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) could create for people and businesses across Europe and is available for public consultation. Each SIA aims to provide a detailed analysis of the economic, social, human rights and environmental impacts of the trade agreement under negotiation. The carrying out of Sustainability Impact Assessments has been the standard practice of the European Commission on all negotiated trade agreements since 1999. These assessments are carried out during the negotiations and feed into the work of the negotiators as the negotiations progress.
“The report indicates that all Member States’ economies would grow as a result of the new trade agreement. The study also predicts that EU exports to the US would rise by 27% and a mix of social indicators shows a combined benefit both for European and US citizens. The report goes beyond the numbers to also look in detail at the social and environmental impact that TTIP could have.”
The EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström commented: "This report, being a draft version to now be scrutinized, should be taken with a pinch of salt. Nevertheless, the report does highlight the many opportunities TTIP presents for the EU. I believe, though, that one particular thing cannot be scientifically captured in any study, however – the impact of TTIP on Europe's ability to shape globalization according to our own standards. Modern trade agreements are one of the tools at our disposal to shape globalization, making it more responsible. With this in mind, both TTIP as well as our trade agreement with Canada (CETA) aim to include progressive chapters on sustainable development, including on labor rights and the environment."
More than 500 interested stakeholders will have the opportunity to review the draft and offer feedback, before the work on the final interim report and recommendations for the end of 2016 starts. A Civil Society Dialogue with the authors of the report is organized by the Commission, which will take place on 30 May 2016 with the following Agenda:
1. Presentation of the Draft Interim Technical Report for the Trade SIA in support of TTIP.
2. Open discussion with stakeholders.
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