Merkel: Calling off EU-US trade talks ‘not very helpful’ / Hollande to Obama: Let’s agree TTIP fast

Speaking to the German Bundestag on the 29 January 2014, Chancellor Angela Merkel denounced the NSA spying scandal but she was quick to warn against hasty reactions like abandoning the planned EU-US trade and investment partnership. The opposition accused her of being submissive.

French President François Hollande said on the 12 February 2014 that “speed is of the essence” for a European Union-US trade deal and that the accord would strengthen economic growth on both sides of the Atlantic.

In a visit to Berlin in February 2014, Ignacio Garcia Bercero, the EU's chief negotiator for TTIP, emphasised the benefits Germany could expect from the agreement and tried to reassure lawmakers that EU standards would not be lowered.

EurActiv had access to a document which states that plans for a sweeping EU-US free trade deal risked being blown off course by civil society fears about the damage it could wreak on environmental and social protections.

• Primary Source

Deutsche Welle, 31.01.14: 'Germany needs to come up with an answer' http://dw.de/p/1AzkZ

Deutsche Welle, 31.01.14: Kerry to meet Merkel ahead of Munich Security Conference http://dw.de/p/1AzuS

ESO: Background information: Obama invites Merkel to Washington after NSA surveillance row http://www.europeansources.info/record/obama-invites-merkel-to-washington-after-nsa-surveillance-row/

ESO: Background information: UK rejects German 'no spy' pact, report says http://www.europeansources.info/record/uk-rejects-german-no-spy-pact-report-says/

ESO: Background information: Leaked document shows EU fear of inferiority in US trade talks http://www.europeansources.info/record/leaked-document-shows-eu-fear-of-inferiority-in-us-trade-talks/

The Guardian, 29.01.14: Angela Merkel warns US over surveillance in first speech of third term http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/29/angela-merkel-us-surveillance-speech-germany-chancellor

EUObserver, 05.02.14: Former German chancellor: US has 'no respect' http://euobserver.com/foreign/123017

EurActiv, 12.02.14: Hollande to Obama: Let’s agree TTIP fast http://www.euractiv.com/trade/hollande-obama-agree-ttip-fast-news-533441

ESO: Background information: Expert group to advise European Commission on EU-US trade talks http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-expert-group-to-advise-european-commission-on-eu-us-trade-talks/

EurActiv, 12.02.14: Chief EU negotiator defends US trade pact in Berlin http://www.euractiv.com/trade/chief-negotiator-campaigns-eu-us-news-533457

EUObserver, 12.02.14: EU 'will not compromise' on food safety in US trade pact http://euobserver.com/foreign/123091

Deutsche Welle, 13.02.14: Avoid 'dumping' in trade deal, warns Germany's Gabriel http://dw.de/p/1B81z

EurActiv, 27.02.14: TTIP ‘challenged’ by environmental critics, EU says http://www.euractiv.com/trade/ttip-challenged-environmental-cr-news-533794

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