The debate aimed to discuss how to make TTIP a tool for jobs and growth, while not compromising high standars on labour- consumer and environmental rights, and to find common ground between members of national and European Parliament, members of US congress, trade unions, think tanks and academics.
Overall, representatives agreed that the TTIP should be people centred and not only based on economic standards. Progressives across the Atlantic need to set the standard for a new global deal. Many have spoken out against the inclusion of the investor state dispute settlement mechanism in he treaty and in favour of binding mechanisms to secure labour rights.
The initiative was organised by FEPS in cooperation with PES, the S&D group and SOLIDAR. The PES delegation included Andreas Schieder, chairman of the Social Democratic group in the Austrian Parliament, John Spellar, member of parliament and shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, labour, UK, Jean-Marc Germain, member of the French Parliament, Said Elkhadraoui, Member of the PES presidency and Kader Sevinc, CPH representative to the EU. PES deputy secretaries general Marije Laffeber and Giacomo Filibeck were also present, along with PES head of international unit Ann Linde. Zita Gurmai, PES women President, represented PES Women.
