MEPs set out position on EU-US trade deal

A committee of MEPs say negotiators involved in EU-US trade talks should come up with a new way of protecting investors in a planned free trade deal.

The European Parliament’s International Trade Committee wants a “permanent” court for resolving disputes between states and companies.

“We have ensured that the fundamental workers’ rights and environmental standards will be respected, and we have made further demands on companies, so that’s progress. Concerning the question of investment protection, there are approaches to development, which is also positive,” said Bernd Lange, a German centre-left MEP.

Parliamentarians passed a resolution saying any scheme could be based on fresh proposals from the European Commission.

But those on the left of the political spectrum are still unhappy with the text, which will be voted on by all MEPs in June.

“We do have a bad report, a bad resolution, which does not protect the European citizens, which on the contrary reinforces the rights of