The International Trade Committee (ITC) of the EU Parliament has cleared the way for progress on the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) next week.

The ITC met on Monday last and agreement was secured to retable the June plenary amendments which had been referred back for reconsideration at an earlier meeting in June.

The committee took the decision in two separate votes – one to re-table the plenary amendments, and the other to re-table requests for split or separate votes. Political division arose in the committee over the controversial Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).

This is how disputes between corporations and Governments should be resolved under TTIP with a fear that EU Government policy may be unenforceable under a deal if challenged by a company or business.

Ireland’s plain packaging for cigarettes is an example that could be challenged by large American tobacco companies.

The EU Parliament's Conference of Presidents which sets the timetable and agenda for Parliamentary debates and votes have wasted no time on getting TTIP on to the agenda for a debate and vote.

Parliament will vote on a resolution, drafted by its International Trade Committee with contributions from 13 other committees, which assesses the progress made so far and sets out Parliament’s views on what needs to be achieved and safeguarded in the TTIP talks in areas such as agriculture, public procurement, data protection, energy, and labour rights.

The debate will be held on Tuesday, 7 July followed by a vote on Wednesday, 8 July.

While the general mood of the Parliament is thought to be positive towards a deal, it is clear that the delay and postponement from last month reveals internal debate and division.

Members are becoming conscious of the potential downsides following intense lobbying by sectoral interests across Europe. Any final deal on TTIP negotiated by the EU Commission must be approved by the Parliament.