Sigmar
Gabriel is the number two person in the German government. But he is not a
member of Chancellor Merkel´s party. He is the leader of the Social Democrats
and his party is in a grand coalition with Merkel´s own grouping. As we come
closer to the next round of general elections in 2017, the Social Democrats
seem to be now more concerned about pleasing the voters than on a serious
approach to public affairs. Their eyes are popularity.
That
might be the reason why Gabriel yesterday declared the TTIP – the transatlantic
trade agreement between the EU and the US – as dead in the water. And in his
words the fault should be laid on the American side. Their demands could not be
accepted by the health-and-environment conscious Europeans, he implied.
Gabriel
knows that the trade agreement with the US, which has been under negotiation
for about four years, is not popular among many in Europe. And he was trying to
play to their feelings. The wrong approach, I add. As a leader, he should be at
the forefront of those explaining on is at stake and how important it is to be
patient but firm and get it done.
Today
his government and Brussels came out to say that the news of such a death are
exaggerated. The negotiations go on and many chapters have already been agreed
upon, notwithstanding Gabriel´s words to the contrary.
TTIP
should be completed as soon as possible. It is in our own interest to have a
closer commercial relation with the US. And it gives us also some additional
strength in our economic discussions with the Russians and others.
Actually,
as about 90% of the articles are ready for mutual endorsement, it would be
possible to sign up for those and let time and further discussions take care of
the remainder points. That has been my position. We do not need to have
everything ready. We approve what is ready, as stage one, and move on to stage
two, to complete the negotiations on what is still pending. It is a pragmatic
way of proceeding. And it sends some strategic messages around us.
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