site.btaSocialists Urge Government to Conduct Large-scale Analysis on TTIP's Consequences

Socialists Urge Government to Conduct Large-scale Analysis on TTIP's Consequences

Sofia, May 13 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Government must conduct a
large-scale analysis on the consequences for Bulgaria from the
possible signing of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership (TTIP) between the EU and the United States, said
socialist MP Kristian Vigenin in BTA's Press Club during a
Wednesday forum, organized by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and
the Bulgarian Solidarity Association.

The TTIP negotiations between the EU and the US started in July
of 2013, Vigenin recalled. According to him, the document is
intended to be the most comprehensive free trade agreement so
far, which will ensure a progressive and reciprocal
liberalization of trade with goods and services, will further
develop trade and investment rules and will emphasize the
lifting of unnecessary regulatory obstacles.

Vigenin said, however, that signing the agreement the way it is
proposed hides risks for Member States, because it would allow
US imports of products containing genetically modified organisms
and lower phytosanitary standards. The potential allowing of
shale gas extraction also causes concern among the Bulgarian
public, as it would lead to contaminating this country's
drinking water. It is no coincidence that the European
Parliament has taken the initiative regarding how this agreement
should look like, Vigenin noted. He explained that after it is
adopted, the document will have to be ratified by the Member
States and this is why Bulgarian MPs must follow in detail the
work on this agreement.

Georgi Bozhinov of the Bulgarian Socialist Party noted that his
Party's National Council had adopted a position regarding the
agreement already on November 7, 2014. It states that a firm
commitment on the part of EU Member States is needed for
sustainable development in its economic, social and
environmental aspects according to the legislative developments
of the EU and its Member States. Bozhinov recalled that citizens
from over 400 EU cities have voiced their concerns about the
signing of such an agreement through protests.