Ref. Ares(2015)1572010 - 13/04/2015
21.
Ref. Ares(2017)1114971 - 02/03/2017
From:
[Art. 4.1(b)]
(TRADE)
Sent:
13 April 2015 16:36
To:
SCHLEGELMILCH Rupert (TRADE); [Art. 4.1(b)]
[Art. 4.1(b)]
TRADE);
BURGSMUELLER Christian (CAB-MALMSTROM)
Cc:
(TRADE)
[Art. 4.1(b)]
Subject:
TTIP event in Coburg 30/03/2015
-- For Ares registration please --
I still owe a little report from a TTIP event in Coburg/Bavaria in which I participated during the Easter
break.
The event was co-sponsored by the local municipal authorities, the local Chamber of Commerce and the
regional Europe Direct Information Centre with about 100 participants from the City Council, business
and public at large.
I gave a 30 min introduction into the main elements of TTIP and addressed the usual concerns
(transparency, standards, public services/culture, ISDS). This was followed by a panel discussion with the
participation of MEP Westphal (S&D), Treier (Deputy CEO and Head of the international department at
the umbrella organisation of the German Chambers of Commerce in Berlin) and the regional
representative of the trade unions.
All in all a friendly atmosphere with a lot of recognition of the Commissioner's recent transparency
efforts. But significant doubts about alleged economic gains. And strong insistence from trade unions on
US signing up to all the relevant ILO conventions (strong pushback from Chamber of Commerce on that
point). Lots of questions on investment protection with local industry arguing strongly in favour of
inclusion of ISDS.
Clearly, as in many other public discussions, lack of trust vàv COM seems to be the main issue looming
behind all technical questions. Hence such events appear useful even though resource-intensive.
[Art. 4.1(b)]