Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the EU can apply parts of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership within EU competence after the Partnership has been signed when ratification of elements of the Partnership that fall within member states' competence has been refused by a member state.

We expect the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) to be a mixed agreement. In this case, subject to an EU Council Decision, it would be possible for the EU to apply the parts of TTIP within EU competence provisionally, pending ratification by Member States. If, however, a Member State ultimately refused to ratify and comply with the agreement, negotiations would have to be reopened.