Whither democracy on TTIP? The people speak and the EU ignores them
![12/07/2014 - Protestors against the EU-US trade deal (TTIP - Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) outside the Houses of Parliament march to Europe House, the London Headquarters of the European Commission and the European Parliament, in Smith Square, London [Image: Huffington Post].](https://voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/141011anti-TTIP.jpg)
12/07/2014 – Protestors against the EU-US trade deal (TTIP – Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) outside the Houses of Parliament march to Europe House, the London Headquarters of the European Commission and the European Parliament, in Smith Square, London [Image: Huffington Post].
So what was the point of all that, then?
It is to be hoped that you are aware of the TTIP and the issues surrounding it – exploitation, putting inferior (and possibly dangerous) goods on the market, and the infamous Investor-State Dispute Settlement procedure that would allow corporations to overrule national legislation if they believe it harms their ability to make a profit. If not, read some Vox Political articles on the subject, starting here.
The negotiations between the EU and the United States were initially held in secret, which says about as much about them as you really need to know. After the whistle was blown on them, they have attracted a huge amount of attention, not just in Europe and Stateside but globally, with much of the attention focused on ISDS and its knock-on effects.
The European Commission therefore launched a consultation on the ISDS plan, presumably in a bid to gain some kind of legitimacy for the project as a whole.
As an exercise in public participation, the consultation has been a roaring success, with 150,000 responses. As an exercise in legitimising TTIP and ISDS, it has been a disaster.
The full report states: “The collective submissions reflect a widespread opposition to Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) in TTIP or in general. There is also quite a majority of replies opposing TTIP in general.
“In these submissions, the ISDS mechanism is perceived as a threat to democracy and public finance or to public policies. It is also considered as unnecessary between the EU and the US, in view of the perceived strength of the respective judicial systems. Such views are largely echoed by most of the trade unions, a large majority of NGOs [non-government organisations], Government institutions and many respondents in the “other organisations” category, including consumer organisations. Many among the collective submissions express specific concerns about governments being sued by corporations for high amounts of money which in their view create a “chilling effect” on the right to regulate. In addition, certain replies from trade unions express a generic mistrust with regard to the independence and impartiality of the arbitrators or are concerned that ISDS may create a possibility for investors to circumvent domestic courts, laws or regulations.”
The only supporters were large corporations – what a surprise! Even smaller businesses were critical.
What conclusions does the Commission draw from this consultation, then?
“The publication of the report on the consultation is only a first step. Further discussions with the other EU institutions and stakeholders will be necessary. However, the consultation has already allowed the identification of four areas where further improvements should be explored:
- the protection of the right to regulate;
- the supervision and functioning of arbitral tribunals;
- the relationship between ISDS arbitration and domestic remedies;
- the review of ISDS decisions for legal correctness through an appellate mechanism.
“Moreover, in the mandate given to the Commission unanimously, it was made clear that investment protection and ISDS should form part of the agreement concluded with the US, provided a number of conditions, as set out in the negotiating directives adopted by the Council, are met.
“It follows therefore that a decision on whether or not to include ISDS is to be taken during the final phase of the negotiations.
“In addition, as was stated by President Juncker in the European Parliament on 22 October 2014, a final decision on whether ISDS will or will not be included in TTIP will be taken in agreement with First Vice-President Timmermans, who shall ensure that ISDS fully complies with the rule of law, the principle of equality before the law, and the principle of transparency.”
No! That’s not what anybody wants at all! They want this plan scrapped!
Yet the Commission is pressing ahead.
Is this democracy?
The only positive aspect to this charade is the fact that all negotiations are currently suspended.
According to the Commission: “In the first quarter of 2015, the Commission intends to further consult EU stakeholders, EU Member States and the European Parliament on the above-mentioned core issues, as part of a wider debate on the approach to investment protection and ISDS in TTIP, with a view to developing concrete proposals for the TTIP negotiations.
“Until then it should be recalled that no negotiations are currently taking place on this issue.”
Today the TTIP was due to be debated in the House of Commons. The UK provided the most submissions to the consultation – at 52,000+, more than a third of them – so it will be fascinating to see whether your MP puts forward the opinion of the public.
What do you think are the chances of that happening?
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whot whot ttip we now they now but still they want to bind us to this even when we say no then awake from their dream those who aint rich before you too are taking to court by these big companies
The EU is not about democracy. No one is elected except the unwieldy parliament which is a mockery as most people don’t have a clue about their MEP’s who represent so many people and such huge areas it is meaningless.
We shall have to see what the MP’s come up with today but it isn’t very hopeful.
they continue to think that we are not knowlegeable enough to know that our democracy is teetering on the brink as it is. this will be the final nail in the coffin. the EU has already begun to dismantle democracy because you cant tell me that europe is still democratic. they listen to nothing that we say. it has just become a gravy boat for failed politicians
I should point out that the EU isn’t a ‘them and us’ situation. We are IN the EU; we should be PART of these decisions. We need to work out how to make that organisation sit up and pay attention.
We should be opposing TTIP & CETA in any form not just because of the ISDS component. Free trade agreements only lead to exploitation of the weaker economic partner in the agreement. Look what the NAFTA agreement has done to Mexico. When I first became aware of TTIP & CETA I signed the stop petition and then I wrote to my MEP’s. I didn’t just use the standard letter that the website provided, I wrote my own. Labour, Lib Dem, Conservative and UKIP showed little if any opposition to TTIP and just harped on about investment and jobs. They were quite patronising about the ISDS component, sovereignty will be protected, blah blah blah. Only my Green MEP was totally opposed to TTIP. The only people who prosper from further globalisation of markets under capitalism are the rich. Just recently Samsung announced that they will be building a new plant costing $1.8Bn in Vietnam, why? Because the average yearly wage is half that of China. This will inevitably displace jobs in China. It doesn’t take free trade agreements to further exploitation but it makes it a whole lot easier for them!
Democracy? Pffft. What Democracy? This is the New World Order, no Democracy here.
At least with ISDS discussions being suspended, some say till the end of the year, we have a chance of having someone representing the UK in Europe who is not so gung-ho on the treaty as Camoron. The Germans are also against it and they have a lot more clout than the UK.