“There is a major public debate. It's very intense in the German-speaking world in particular, but it extends all across the EU,” Malmstrom said.
She added that the European Commission welcomes this debate.
“We are engaging with our critics and we are taking their concerns seriously,” she stressed.
Among the measures taken on board by Brussels, Malmstrom listed the opening of the negotiations to public scrutiny and a new EU approach to the issue of investment protection.
The controversial TTIP deal is opposed by many Europeans who claim that the pact would undermine standards and regulations on environmental protection, health and safety, as well as workers’ rights, among other points.
Over 3.3 million people have signed a petition against TTIP and a similar EU-Canada deal called CETA, while a protest against both deals in Berlin brought out some 150,000-250,000 people on October 11, according to various estimates.