The European Union and the United States are currently negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), with a stated aim to ease trade barriers between the two regions.
“Europe has seen such growth, social development over the last several decades and people are afraid that we might lose some of what has been achieved. This free trade treaty between Europe and the United States needs to provide safeguards and guarantees… We don't have those safeguards or guarantees at this stage,” Pintado said at the PACE spring session.
Supporters of the deal say that economic growth is guaranteed by the partnership. Opponents, including many high-ranking political and financial authorities, say the deal gives too much control to corporations.
On April 18, waves of protests against the TTIP hit Europe, with tens of thousands of people taking to streets to express dissatisfaction with the speed and secrecy of treaty negotiations and the possible negative impacts.