“Current Affairs Society” organises panel discussion between professors about TTIP
Grand finale to the series of seminars “TTIP: A Blessing or a Curse?”
Kleve, 21 June 2016: On Tuesday evening the three-part series of seminars on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) ended with a packed seminar room and a panel of six professors. The panel discussion, planned and organised by the student club “Current Affairs Society”, was introduced with praising words by the Dean of the Faculty of Society and Economics, Professor Dr Jakob Lempp. He noted that he was very pleased to see so many students favour the discussion about a free trade agreement over the European Championship football match scheduled for the same time.
At the beginning of the discussion the panelists illustrated their positions, which hinted at the exciting debate to come. The majority of the professors positioned themselves with the proponents of the controversial treaty; however, there was one clear opposing opinion as well as one neutral vote. Present were the economists Professor Dr habil. Gregor van der Beek, Professor Dr Hasan Alkas, Professor Dr Oliver Serfling and Zunera Rana. Professor Dr Dietrich Darr shed light on the consumer protection and environmental standards, while Professor Dr John Henry Dingfelder Stone explained the agreement from a legal perspective.
In a very pleasant atmosphere the enthusiastic panelists held an intriguing, interesting and entertaining debate for the numerous students present. Having patiently waited for more than 90 minutes, the audience finally had the chance to pose questions of their own to the panelists. To close out the event, the “Current Affairs Society” invited everyone for snacks and drinks and an engaging exchange of opinions that continued well into the evening.