BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — City officials said they shared the sentiment of many Europeans who oppose the agreement, saying it reflects only the interests of multinational corporations and financial institutions to eliminate European trade regulation, and does not consider local businesses and manufacturers.
The Municipal Council declared Mons "the city out of the TTIP," saying that the European Commission must reconsider the terms of the TTIP, the Belgian Radio Contact said.
Mons made the decision following a meeting of its authorities and EU director general for trade, Jean-Luc Demarty, on the proposed secret trade pact.
In April, anti-TTIP activists in Spain, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy held hundreds of protests, saying the treaty undermines key environmental and labor standards.
Over 1.7 million people in Europe signed a petition against the TTIP and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) – a similar treaty, which Brussels has been discussing with Canada.
