On the occasion of the "Stop TTIP, stop CETA" demonstration, which took place Saturday in Berlin, we are calling for maximum transparency in the negotiations and a more pro-active educational work. We reject the rejection of free trade in favour of tariffs and trade restrictions.

Our president Konstantin Kuhle states: "It is wrong to completely reject TTIP and CETA because both agreements are a great opportunity for Europe, as the reduction of unnecessary tariffs and trade barriers will ultimately benefit hundreds of thousands of people. TTIP and CETA will create new jobs. Free trade offers new growth perspectives especially for the EU Member States in southern Europe, which are still dealing with immense youth unemployment."

"How decadent can one be to seriously argue against free trade while living in the largest and most successful free trade zone in the world as an EU-citizen?"

It is just hypocritical but simply shows how often critics work with resentments, anti-Americanism and misinformation, Konstantin continued.

"Already for some time, all EU negotiating documents have been freely accessible on the Internet. All important negotiating points with background information on TTIP and CETA are available on the website of the European Commission.

The EU Commission has also refuted some popular criticisms here.

TTIP will not change existing EU food standards or EU legislation about animal welfare. The European consumer will not be forced to eat chlorine chicken or hormone-treated beef. The same applies to private arbitration, which is now rejected by the European Commission itself and instead calls for a new international court.

Even the often invoked myth of allegedly lower standards of protection and quality in the US must seriously be questioned in the light of the recent VW scandal, as it were US Environmental Agencies and not the German Federal Environment Agency or the European Commission which revealed the large-scale fraud.

If you have questions regarding this press release by the German Young Liberals (JuLis) feel free to contact their Press Officer Florian Ott ([email protected]).