"We are concerned that the TTIP will lead to a new wave of privatization, up to the municipal level. This agreement is expected to authorize the privatization of public infrastructure, healthcare, etc. Thus, the municipalities would lose their powers to some extent and become limited in their ability to self-govern," Hoffmann said.
Hoffmann's remarks come after a non-binding TTIP vote in the European Parliament, originally planned to take place Wednesday, was postponed over a lack of consensus on investor protection clauses.
The unusually secretive talks have been on and off for years, with EU politicians and civil group activists arguing that the deal would give too much power to transnational corporations. Supporters of the treaty claim it would boost economic growth of all parties due to elimination of trade barriers between the two economic powerhouses.
In April, waves of protests against the hotly-debated TTIP spread across Europe, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with the speed and secrecy of the ongoing negotiations on the treaty and the negative impact of the pact on EU economies.
