Council approves launch of trade and investment negotiations with the United States
EU News 291/2013
Council of the European Union
Luxembourg, 14 June 2013
10919/13
PRESSE 255
The Council today adopted a mandate for the Commission to negotiate a comprehensive trade and investment agreement with the United States, the "transatlantic trade and investment partnership" (TTIP).
The mandate is composed of a decision of the Council and a decision of the representatives of the member states authorising the opening of negotiations, as well as directives for the negotiation of the agreement. The directives foresee an agreement made up of three key components: market access; regulatory issues and non-tariff barriers; and rules.
The Council agreed that audiovisual services will not be covered in the mandate, but that the Commission will have the opportunity to make recommendations on additional negotiating mandates.
Source and additional information:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/137485.pdf