TTIP deal to turn out as obstacle for EU economy: Analyst

Press TV has interviewed Manuel Ochsenreiter, editor-in-chief of Zuerst, to discuss a transatlantic trade agreement between Germany and the United States.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Well how do you see all of this because German Chancellor Merkel today said that this economic pact was very good for Europe and of course Obama here saying it is also good for the Americans? How do you see it from the European side affecting the Europeans?

Ochsenreiter: Well when it comes to the TTIP (the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) agreement there are so many things which are not clear to the population. There are so many things which might turn out as obstacles for the European and in particular for the German economy and that Angela Merkel is praising the TTIP agreement and that Angela Merkel is saying that this is one of the most important steps for the future for the Federal Republic of Germany and for the European Union just shows again that she is governing against the majority of the German people and I would say also against the majority of the European people.

We face a lot of critics. We face a lot of protest against this agreement. These protests are directed against several levels of the agreement. There are ecological levels, environmental levels. There are levels of the security of our food, so what will be the ingredients in future? There are of course legal obstacles for the European companies, what would mean that practically the US would dominate the European Union by its legal system and that they could put on charge European companies so there are many, many reasons to be against this agreement, more reason to be against this agreement than to be in favor [of] this agreement.

Press TV: So in your perspective, then why would the German Chancellor say it is a good deal for Germany and for the EU?

Ochsenreiter: Now we almost speak about philosophy with this question because why would she say it so? We can ask many questions. Why does she say the euro currency is positive for Germany and for the European continent when we know that it cost the financial crisis in Greece? Why does she say the German military adventures in Afghanistan and now in Syria are positive when we all know that they simply support terrorism and fuel the conflicts? So why does she say so?

The answer is in Washington because Angela Merkel practically is doing what Barack Obama or any other head of the US administration is expecting her to do, so it is not surprising. We will not face any disagreement between Angela Merkel and Barack Obama now or in future.

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