Vladimir NESTEROV
Taking recently of U.S. President Barack Obama, who made a farewell tour through Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for the speedy signing initiated by the Washington agreement between the United States and the European Union on the Transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP). Obama immediately praised the statement Frau bundeskanzlerin: “I exclusively appreciate the partnership with her,” he declared, “and proud that Angela is my friend”.
It is not known how to feel after such a compliment, “friend”, but what is valuable in the eyes of the President of the United States, Europe promises new troubles. For General discussions about economic growth and jobs on both sides of the Atlantic, which, as we are assured, will promote the TTIP agreement is a rather ugly reality. The agreement, if signed, will open free access to U.S. agricultural products, including genetically modified foods.
In this issue of “Atlantic solidarity” does not work. If the Europeans use only authenticated chemicals that cannot harm the consumer, the United States allowed the use of any substances, except for those whose harm has been proved. Moreover, Washington is openly blackmailing the Europeans: don’t open a market for our agricultural products is not zero duties on your cars. Disputes with the regulatory authorities of the EU American company, as before, are going to solve through international arbitration courts, which occupy their lobbyists that negates the role of the European Supervisory authorities and legislation of individual countries.
In Europe, the future agreement dubbed the “Trojan horse” acting in the interests of American corporations. The analysis of the renowned French economist Jacques Sapir shows that in the long run increase in net export will have only the US economy, and European countries will lose. Jacques Sapir is confident that the signing of the agreement would be a disaster for Europe. To take at least the same “hormonal” meat. It is 30% cheaper than European. Its duty-free imports will destroy the local manufacturers but the quality of food of the Europeans automatically get worse.
Unlike Angela Merkel, the majority of Germans does not want disaster. The may poll ARD-Deutschland Trend showed that 70% of respondents consider it necessary to abandon the agreement on the TTIP. Only 17% of respondents are supporters of the agreement, whereas in 2014 there were 55%. “Meat-hormones” will not” – said immediately after emergence in mass media of information about the secret negotiations on TTIP, the official representative of the Minister of economy of Germany Sigmar Gabriel, opposed his point of view the position of Chancellor.
Stronger sentiments against the Transatlantic trade and investment partnership and other EU countries. The Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Renzi made a statement in which he stressed that the contract must present the necessary conditions of reciprocity, transparency, food security and free access to the public market. Under these conditions Rome also say “no”, writes La Repubblica.
In France firmly on the position of the rejection of the TTIP is the leader of “National front” marine Le Pen. “This is the transatlantic agreement is the atomic bomb for the economy of our country,” she says.
“Atomic bomb” from the mouths of marine Le Pen is so enthralling Angela Merkel that she immediately decided to fight the increasing in France “National front”, and as reported to pupils of French Lyceum in Berlin. “I’ll try to assist to other political groups were stronger than the front national,” said Merkel, and has pledged to try “so far as this can be done from abroad”. “This is a political power that we must confront. Just as we do it in Germany with the political forces acting with the negative discourse about Europe,” said Merkel, referring to the “Alternative for Germany”.
Attack of Angela Merkel remained unanswered. H of may on the official website of the “National front”, a communiqué was issued to the press in which marine Le Pen said: “Serious statements of Ms. Merkel signaled his desire to make “other political parties were more powerful than the “national front”, are insulting and humiliating interference in the internal Affairs of France; these words reveal the brutal truth: the subjection of our country to Germany. To afford such statements, the office of the Federal Chancellor should consider France as their farmstead, and Francois Hollande as its Vice-Chancellor…”
The impudence of Angela Merkel and the scathing response of a future French presidential candidate marine Le Pen suggests that these bets are made and stakes are high. Washington’s desire to “push” the agreement on the Transatlantic partnership is not only splits the political community in some countries of Europe, but also revives long-standing contradictions (like the Franco-German) between the major powers of the continent. “United Europe” gives another crack.
