LONDON, Dec. 18 (People's Daily Online)——CBI is hosting talks in Brussels today with the British Prime Minister David Cameron, European business groups and international companies on the importance of securing the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

As the European Council begins, the CBI is urging European national governments to deliver an ambitious agreement that could create thousands of jobs across the Continent. It is doing so in conjunction with its sister business federations in Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Latvia.

John Cridland, CBI Director-General, said: “Europe’s business community has come together and is united in making a loud and clear clarion call to political leaders – this deal is vital for future growth and the prosperity for citizens across the EU, and could create thousands of new opportunities for our young people.”

He mentioned that TTIP could be worth up to 120 billion EUR to the EU every year. As European politicians gather to drive through Commission President Juncker’s 315 billion EUR investment package, they cannot ignore the significant contribution to jobs and growth that TTIP could also deliver.

“It would create an integrated market of over 800 million people, bringing more choices for consumers at cheaper prices. And with the UK already trading more and investing more with the US than any other country, there are real advantages to drive home particularly for smaller firms.”