This is a setback for the pro-agreement lobby as though Parliament’s support isn’t vital at this state to allow discussions proceed, it would be desirable. Parliamentary approval will be necessary before any final treaty is adopted, so ultimately Parliament has a veto.

The “vote not to vote” in the Parliament is effectively a rejection of the fragile compromise agreement that was reached in the International Trade Committee the week previously, achieved on the back of a multitude of amendments and recommendations from various other committees of the EU Parliament. A flood of amendments, in excess of 200, were tabled and this persuaded the Parliament President, Martin Schulz, to send the matter back to the International Trade Committee for further consideration.

Political division in the Socialist and Democrat groupings in the Parliament are the main reason why the Parliament didn’t take a position this week. This reflects the divergence of opinion in general across Europe, not only in the Parliament on the issue. Basically the more conservative leaning Governments including Ireland and the UK are every much pro-agreement and this mood is reflected among the European Conservatives and Reformists grouping in the Parliament.

ADVERTISEMENT

While in Ireland the main concern around TTIP centres on the beef industry and a subsequent trading position with the US, the main driver of concern in Europe now centres on the “Investor-State Dispute Settlement Mechanism” (ISDS), a private arbitration system now standard in many trade deals. This by passes national courts as the final arbitration on disputes and an example that is often cited is that Ireland’s vote in its national parliament to ban cigarette branding may not stand under TTIP.

While this week has been a setback for progression on TTIP, such is the political drive to have an agreement that it is unlikely to derail the process in the longer term. A further round of discussions, the tenth in all, will take place in Brussels in July and expect a strong political push again in the autumn. When agreement is reached, parliamentarians will come under intense pressure to approve and after this week Parliament has put the marker down that it cannot be taken for granted.