site.bta Foreign Minister: Support Has Been Declared Not for TTIP Itself, But for Negotiations towards Its Conclusion

Foreign Minister: Support Has Been Declared Not for TTIP Itself, But for Negotiations towards Its Conclusion

Sofia, November 14 (BTA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
sticks to the official Bulgarian position in respect to the
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) presented
at the European Council meetings of foreign and trade ministers,
Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said during Question Time in
Parliament Friday. Mitov was answering a question by MP Velizar
Enchev concerning BulgariaТs attitude to the TTIP agreement
which is to be negotiated between the European Union and the
United States.

Mitov recalled that the position had initially been formulated
and adopted by the previous government. Bulgaria, along with the
rest of the EU member countries, takes into account the need of
increasing economic growth in the union, promoting strategic
partnership with the United States, supports the negotiations
for the conclusion of a uniform, ambitious and comprehensive
Trans-Atlantic partnership for trade and investments, he added.


In the case of such a large and complicated agreement it is
natural to have doubts and controversial issues, Mitov
commented, adding that these contradictions should be overcome
precisely in the course of the negotiation process. The best way
for Bulgaria to defend its national interest is to participate
actively in the negotiations with its own positions as a EU
member.

In his conversation with the US Ambassador, Mitov supported not
the partnership itself, which still does not exist, but
constructive negotiations between the EU and the United States,
Mitov explained.

Speaking about goods with GMO, Mitov said the main legislation
of the EU on this matter is not included in the mandate for
negotiations and will not be changed as a result of those.
BulgariaТs position on this matter remains unchanged. Bulgaria
does not support GMO to be allowed on the market or farmed on
the territory of the EU, he said.

The future partnership between the EU and the United States is
based on common principles and shared values, compatible with
the principles and objectives of the EU. The markets of the EU
and the United States are currently very much integrated and
most of the tariff restrictions have been reduced.

The principal challenge in the negotiations is to overcome
non-tariff restrictions. According to the valuations, the
maximum benefits of the partnership agreement are expected to
come from the eradication of regulatory obstacles, Mitov noted.
He added that this will benefit small and medium-sized
enterprises particularly.