On Saturday (18 April), hundreds of demonstrations took place across Europe and the world in a “global day of action”. The protesters were marching against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Pact (TTIP) – a planned free trade agreement between the US and the EU. The next round of negotiations over TTIP are due to begin on Monday (20 April) in New York, and the protests over the weekend were the largest yet.
Opponents of the pact argue that it will damage European democracy, environmental rules, food standards and labour laws. However, the EU Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström, has written in her blog that such claims “do not have a basis in reality”.
We had a comment sent in by Anders arguing exactly that TTIP would harm democracy:
TTIP in its current form allows corporations to SUE countries and governments over laws ‘limiting’ their operations. This opens the door wide open to abuse of all kinds by big corporations, and effectively renders governments and countries in the pockets of Big Business. Democracy will suffer horrendously, freedom and rights that we currently have will also be adversely affected.
Anders is referring specifically to the Investor-state Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism, which has emerged as the most controversial aspect of the proposed TTIP deal.
To get a response to Anders, we put his comment to Cecilia Malmström for her reaction:
But is the ISDS really a red line for the negotiations? In the US, there are some Members of Congress equally worried about giving too much power to sinister “European firms”. We had a comment sent in by Mhitsos arguing it is the “most important aspect of TTIP”, but is he right? Could the TTIP talks continue without an agreement on the ISDS?
Are the TTIP negotiations stalled? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below, and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!
197 comments Post a commentcomment
Most of the opponents of TTIP are very anti-democratic.
@Leo Vlaming
Please kindly elucidate us with your nuggets of information garnered and gathered from all and sundry.
Are you trolling or does it just seem that way? What about treaties negotiated in secret with NO access for elected politicians but FULL access for corporate CEO’s and lawyers.
Seems to me you got this thing the wrong way round.
Asinine comment, Leo. How about backing your ludicrous comment up with FACTS and EVIDENCE?
.
Created by the unelected European Commission & rubber stamped by the unrepresentative European Parliament…
Of course its undemocratic, its how the EU works !
Yeah, that is a great comment!
Unelected European Commission. This may come as a surprise to you, but ALL governments are unelected. Did you vote for David Cameron as Prime Minister? No. If you happen to live in his constituency, you may have voted for him as a Member of Parliament. People in the other 649 constituencies in the UK didn’t even have that option. Was your opinion sought about the composition of the Cabinet? The government in a parliamentary democracy exists, or ceases to, at the whim of Parliament.
In the US the people’s elected representatives do not even have that option. Members of the Cabinet serve at the pleasure of the President.
The European Parliament has more powers in that respect than the US Congress. Formally, it can dismiss the entire Commission. In practice, several commissioners have been sacked by the President of the Commission when it was made clear to him that the person in question had lost the confidence of Parliament. That is exactly how things happen in practice in the UK and other parliamentary democracies.
As for “unrepresentative”: how is the Parliament “unrepresentative”? Wasn’t it elected? Was anyone disqualified from voting on illegal grounds? Or is it just that its composition not to your liking? Then we have that in common. But to call a duly elected body “unrepresentative” smacks of dubious, anti-democratic leanings. Would you prefer “das gesundes Volksempfinden” as the leading concept? No doubt with yourself as its sole arbiter then.
A skewed view of the EU system, no less. Why would you need to elect the Commission? Its a legislator, it creates legislation, based on the merits of an idea, not party affiliations or based on the requests from the Parliament. It is supposed to be impartial to the bone. Yes, it is not perfect, there is a lot of lobbying, but it is still made up of various specialists first and foremost, not party members. It will be impractical to elect them. If there would be bickering among the party lines, as there is in most cases, nothing would get done.
Plus, anything the Commission comes up with is subject to acceptance by the Parliament and the Council. Not one, but TWO bodies elected by the constituents are to say YES to the proposal if it is to pass. One consists of MEPs that you, as a citizen, elect (and if you did not, then that only proves that the Parliament’s poor composition is reflected by the poor election turnouts) and the Council that is brimming with national ministers, also subject to electoral processes on the national level. If either of the two bodies says ‘NO’ to a proposal, after two rounds of negotiations it goes out of the window. In other cases it is either accepted or amended appropriately.
Please, tell me, where does it lack in the sense of being democratic?
To both of those who replied to this comment,I could go on at considerable length,but how in any way can you argue that the EU is democratic ?.It is without doubt the least democratic organisation ever established.It has a long history of ignoring democratic decisions,you have very short memories or havent done your homework boys.Are you employed in Brussels by any chance?.maybe civil servants ?
So what exactly did you add to the discussion, Eric? Other than complete negation of our comments? To say it is the most undemocratic entity is to completely ignore each and every argument we stated without disproving them. What is lacking? Representation of people? Check the latest UK election results and tell me that FPTP system is effective in that respect. Input by national (elected i might add) reps.? Plenty of those as well. As for lobbying or pressure from without, everyone is guilty succumbing to it so its not a bane that plagues EU institutions alone.
And no, i have no affiliation with any of the institutions or any Brussels-based orgs. If your first port of call when debating is boiling down support for EU as having an interest or representing one, then, really its not a debate anymore and just a simple anti-EU chant.
It is pretty democratic, however who sais that democracy (or dictatorship of the majority) is a good thing?
Arkadi, if you are Russian, no wonder about your ideas, but if you are an EU national, it is alarming.
@Arkadi Sharkov
What do you propose in its stead?
Hahaha yes! I was always skeptical of democracy.
Rather be ruled by one rat than millions!
The system of democracy is invented by Plato, who believed that the residents of his community should elect the smartest within community to decide on common issues on their behalf.
This is exactly how democracy in most countries still works, even though Plato never meant this system to work on a national level, as it was meant for small communities.
So what is democracy, quite simple: Citizens have the right to vote whomever is going to decide for them what’s right and wrong. I do notice another difference with what Plato’s idea: Plato had in mind that the smartest people would get elected. ‘Smart’ is a word that I seldom use in combination with politicians.
Some countries have a slightly different system, called a direct democracy, a system in where citizens directly decide on decision to be taken, usually by referendum. Switzerland is the most well know example of this.
I have to agree with Arkadi that there is few difference between being ordered by 1 dictator or a bunch of elected politicians in a parliament; In both cases there is no individual freedom and the individual is always subject to the will of someone or something else.
Individual freedom is the corner stone of civilisation. There is no legitimate or moral argument to sacrifice individual freedom in favour of whatsoever.
It used to be a good thing. Right now we have an uneducated mob electing unqualified idiots… that’s the sad truth. And that’s why I’m also starting to think that maybe democracy isn’t so great after all.
And yes, I am European – and I strongly believe in and support the EU. But I also think we should shift to Technocracy ASAP and stop giving the ruling power to people that base their decisions on opinions and nationalism, rather than facts.
So a company can sue a nation, no chance, no to TTIP!!!!!
Depending on what country you live in, you will find that your country already has a multiplicity of bi-lateral trade agreements which have that provision as standard. As an example, the Netherlands has 92 such agreements/treaties. The word “investor” in the name refers to the fact that many countries, mostly developed, democratic states with sophisticated legal systems have little confidence in the legal systems of various other countries. Arbritation clauses have been negotiated in the bi-lateral agreements as a protection of their companies against dubious practices such as nationalisation with insufficient or no compensation. The issue at hand here is that TTIP is such a big, comprehensive affair that people are suddenly beginning to take notice of what in reality is already standard practice.
That said, I agree that ISDS, as it stands, is highly undesirable. And this is also the opinion of the majority of the European Parliament. So ISDS in its current form will not pass. What will it look like eventuall? Keep watching this channel and let your MEP know what you think.
It is a real threat, authentically anti-democratic. Why is this treaty discussed so secretly? The entire decisional process is foggy, it completely lacks of transparency. Actually, we perfectly know why. It’s all about this treaty is only good to US and american big corporations.
Funny. A lot Americans have the exact mirror image. They don’t trust “shady European firms”.
It is only a threat to democracy if politicians would like to close or nationalize private companies without compensation. It is also called a threat to democracy because money is recognized as the most important factor when decisions are made, meaning politicians are likely to discard ideas which might cost some compensation to private companies. In other words, TIPP is a threat to democracy if democracy is all about money.
no exageration !! TTIP is not a democratic instrument !! is a imperialist fence … it is repulsed by the very ideea of democracy …
Exagering.
@Americo De Americis
Ahhh, I see you are doubly named after the man who named America – Richard Ameryk.
TTIP is a s**t
No TTIP!!!!
Mafiosi
Of course it is.
The TTIP would have been good only with same or similar strong partners! It seems very organised how they made Europe wicked first with the global recession started from USA, than they’re forcing this TTIP treaty on us! Surely American corporations will dominate some European nations governments if this treaty would succeed!
Exaggerating, as usual
It’s not a threat and I’m in favour of having one. But not in the current draft.
dreamofblueskypoetry.blogspot.com
TTIP is the code name for an American invasion.
They are just hippies who don’t really know how the world is working
Yes
TTIP is a treat for mankind and all living species in Europe , but what else
is not in danger where the US is involved. Just like pets who are made /bred to adjust and living in Europe so are the humans where huge Multinationals and Big pharma’s are involved. All for the money and it only will get worst.. The bill should be killed in any case .
@Vijaykumar Autar Sharma
I think you’ll find that France and Germany [more Europe, more Europe] are as equally culpable as the USA.
Ttip is a threat to europe freedom … And health… I dont wont anything from usa from there only came garbage and evil things
It surely is!!
Not only is it a threat to democracy, it is a threat to sovereignty!
To label it “exaggerating” is being charitable.
The TTIP is a global threat and the weak economies will go under the ground with it.
For the first time in history, movements are rejecting and condemning an agreement without knowing its actual content (of course, it’s still under negotiation). When asked, people don’t obviously know anything about free trade areas or customs unions, though in 2015 everyone of us could provide some good basic information on the internet. Our society will slowly perish under the blows of demagogism and disinformation.
From the pro TTIP side we get nothing but lies, exaggerations and propaganda.
And it is a FACT that all free trade treaties in the 21st century are designed to move jobs away to low wage, low regulation countries to increase corporate profits at the expense of workers in higher wage countries.
It’s absolutely a very dangerous agreement. It will give an uncontrolled power to big corporations over local economies, rules and administration. It will crush family businesses, small and artisanal companies… Some parts of this TTIP are even kept secret!!! TTIP must be stopped!
I am for it. ..but not in the present form. The only real threat are consumers that make bad choices. If a product is not brought then it will not exist long. Open and fair trade is good but not at the expense of the environment and safety/health of humanity.
Global Democracy and economics must be about ideas and progress, not profit, exploitation and exclusion.
@Geoffrey Howard
Global Democracys = NWO = ‘Shamocracy’.
An exploiting & unfair one can- but should never be allowed to pass the 28 EU Member parliamentary required consent- without a SINGLE rejection! Concerned interest groups need free access and be considered!
This link may shed some light around the latest TTIP progress- “considered” safe enough by the EC for publication: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/ttip/
Continually questioning the public about TTIP & expecting informed answers is somehow disingenuous- when no details are available! Politicians, bankers & global business interest must understand that THEY are thoroughly mistrusted after all the multiple scandals, scheming and failures- severely affecting the 99%. Please publish the latest, be transparent & honest- don’t act as such! It will bite you all eventually!
It is indeed a real threat, no doubt about it.
Stop TTIP
I am in favor of free trade is fair Europe should be alert and not fall asleep in the power corporations have not lost our environrnment and our freedom rights rights TTIP
From my point of view TTIP is bad only for “spoiled brats”westerners, but not so bad for poor and hungry easterners. Mainly, it affects well established businesses and welfare in the West, the same and very businesses that benefit from eastern poverty. Some people’s “trash” is other people’s “treasure”.
Let them have it, then.
I would gladly see the iron curtain back.
I wouldn’t say that TTIP as a whole is one way or another. There are so many provisions and not all of them need to go together.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/feb/04/secrets-ttip-corporations-not-citizens-transatlantic-trade-deal
@Spiros Agiovasiliotis
Thank you Spiros – the article is TRULY frightening!
@Marcel
Most easterners jumped from “centralized communist bankrupt economy” to the wildest capitalism under the “wise” right wing/conservative/ EPP direction and leadership, skipping of course the glorious (for the westerners) “Great Unions” or “Solidarity Strike” years. Not even a russian invasion can do more harm compared to merkelism, so TTIP is just another bad joke.
Dear EU – please have a heart! A heart for the people. http://www.WWSEEP.com
HAZARDOUS THREAT
I think it is going to bring a better future, though I cannot be sure, even when I have read several official documents, but it is difficult to find high quality documentation about what’s being negotiated.
And since politicians seem to be hiding this big issue, it’s normal that people doesn’t trust them!
Of course they’re exaggerating, they’re professional protesters…
Not to democracy, but to HUMAN RIGHTS.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tfZoKdgj8kg
No to TTIP
It might not be a threat to democracy, but it is surely a threat to our economy – and that’s reason enough for it to be stopped, in my opinion.
Any group or organization who doesn’t want to reveal what they are planning, to the people they are planning it for, is not working for the benefit of those it is hiding from. Because if they were you would be filled with the crock 60 times a day.. They don’t want the public to know what is going on hence the secret meeting and no leaks at all.
There is no question that should this go through we will no longer have any form of democracy or freedom. The exageration they pretend exists does not go far enough for nothing is revealed. And the single reason there is an attempt by organizations to reveal this hidden agenda is as a result ot the determination to keep it all in the dark.
Think about this, when was the last time you voted for an American President, Congressman or Senator?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAp6cD5i8O0
And what it means to all of us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzVdJyKTmao
Yes it is, and clearly so.
1. all of this is negotiated in secret (that is a major red flag).
2. but corporate CEO’s have full access to the draft text at all times, but elected members of parliaments and governments do not.
3. like all other trade agreements of the 21st century, it will benefit only corporations and the rich.
4. many jobs will be transported to low(er) wage countries and/or low(er) regulation countries (because that is what these treaties do).
5. and it creates a separate legal system for corporations where they can sue government for having social policies, but the reverse (governments sue corporations) will be all but forbidden (in the name of ‘investment protection’).
Why do corporations need a separate legal system?
@Catherine
Its not just that we don’t vote for US politicians, but I also never voted for the Eurosoviet Politburo (Commission) or Latvian/Polish/Italian/Greek/Portuguese politicians that would also be formally voting on this.
In short, where is the democracy? It isn’t there. TTIP is a huge giveaway that will benefit corporations, destroy more than a million jobs across Europe and be devastating for the poor and the middle class.
Supporting TTIP is tantamount to treason against ‘European’ values. They say they’re getting all sorts of protections, but it is a big fat lie. Any treaty is always a compromise and ‘our’ standards are better than those of the Americans in almost every way, so any agreement means watering down ours (always), and if they say it doesn’t they are lying.
@ Marcel:
Yes, of course you are right, and no we don’t vote for all the States politicians.
However, what I have noticed is how these people, the politicians, have worked it so that they now are openly corrupt thieves and yet still they sta\nd for election with all their scum in the open, and somehow, they still get into office. In other words they are elected corruption by consent of the people.
And example is, we in the UK are close to a General Election and the blatant lies and deliberate abuse of the people is open for all to see. My friend lives in a constituency that is what they call a ‘safe seat’ for the politician they put up there for a vote could be a cow and still make it into office. This guy they have put up for his vote stole £6,000 of tax payers money to pay his business electricity bill. This ran at a £1000 per week. When caught he simply said, he didn’t realise it was his business heating bill. Don’t laugh, I’m serious. So, even thoughhe is going to vote for this piece of sheite, he will still be my friends MP because he is in a ‘safe seat.’ Seriously, it means he has no vote. For whoever he votes for makes no difference because this thief will be re-elected regardless. Now the question is this, do the electorate really put their cross by his name, knowing he is a low life cheat, or, is the ballot a rigged deal?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/millionaire-conservative-mp-nadhim-zahawi-2715379
One other little side bar regarding how corrupt our politics have become in the UK, is, this guy is a friend of our PM and not only that, he was a politically correct appointment. He is an ethnic immigrant whom they want to elevate to prove they are going along with the premis of multiculturalism. The fact that he is a multi millionaire, whose family had benefit hand outs from the State to educate him privately, does not seem to phase a corrupt government from pushing him in the faces of us all as they insult our intelligence by placing him in a ‘safe’ seat.
And then, with Europe, is it any different? Take Juncker, he likewise was on the fiddle of taxpayers money and it was in the open, yet, still he remains in the office he has in order to daily insult us citizens as he boozes and smokes himself to death on our money.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/14/jean-claude-juncker-luxembourg-tax-deals-controversy
TTIP will destroy, at minimum, a million jobs throughout European countries. Those will be moved to low wage countries.
Its an OBVIOUS threat at many levels. Who does not recognise it hasn’t read enough about what similar treaties have done in other countries around the world. It should be stopped!!!
They are secure in the knowledge that the population hasn’t chopped off heads for far too long. No one today is prepared to raise Madame Guillotine from the French graveyard and isn’t there an end of capital punishment on the books, even for traitors?
What the Commissioner says is surprising. Just take the example of the mandate argument. Her own department proposed this very mandate text (negotiating directive) to the council. No one forces the Commission to exercise all options from the mandate, a negotiating directive defines the scope of EC powers in these external negotiations.
This trade treaty will recognize US quality standards as equal to for eg German standards or on a bigger level equal to Europan standards,we all know that US standards are not as high as European standards, these Americans chlorinate chicken destined for human consumtpion!!! They refuse to label GMO ingredients in a obvious submission to big business, European negotiators must ensure that whatever deal is made doesnt hinder Europe from ensuring that imports from whereever conform to European ideas of quality, safety and labelling.
As far as TTIP is concerned, look forward to this kind of legislation moving more and more in to your life shere. As the courts ignore article 8 of the Human Rights Act. As I have been writing for many years, a lot, if not all this PC crock we have to put up with comes from the USA. That so called Capitalist society where socialism and fairness is called communism and the shunning you get if you lean toward it.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/aaron-and-melissa-klein-antigay-bakers-ordered-to-pay-135000-after-refusing-to-make-cake-for-samesex-wedding-10205376.html
What I am worried about is importing the old (and failed) model of intellectual rights protection from the US via this treaty, leaving the EU vulnerable to the kind of abuse that results in stifling not just innovation in general but the work of small “garage” companies that want to make a name for themselves.
Seems that TTIP gives a lot of power to corporations and is designed to kill small enterprises. Of this power, the one that allows them to attack states is particularly frightening.
I sincerely hope that this treaty is dismantled with no possibility of recovery.
it’s a colonial threat
keep the americna trash in america. We have a much betterquality of life in Europe
No, but would like to research it more.
Yes it is, no doubt! If this is going to be just like the other similar treaties where independent “courts” are created that don.t obey the countries laws and are above them, and can only be used by companies to sue the goverments if they take measures that make companies indirectly lose money ( measures that generally exist to protect our health, like the images on the cigarettes packages), HOW CAN IT NOT BE?
It’s very bad
The fact that talks are carried out in secret says it all, and the idea of American farmers being able to sue European governments for loss of earnings due to American beef not being readily available in European markets because of their use of growth hormones, is disgusting…..
Yes, and there’s no need to have an act like this!! Europe it’s fine like it is now, without other threats like this TTIP.Private companies should always remember that they represent not states, but individuals and there’s no need of individuals having more power than the state(s).
Overall, TTIP is a major disappointment for the europeans.
EU, and especially European Commission is a threat to democracy!
Yes it does
A lethal threat against citizens worldwide.
Yup.
Of course, if it wasn’t, people would have voted for it!
No. It is for Russia interests in EU
TTIP is OK.
Just like EU concept, it is just another layer upon another existing layer of governance. In reality it’s really nothing, but bureaucracy upon bureaucracy upon bureaucracy. Now it would be okay if it had no monetarian impact (autonomy-based governance), but it does which makes it an unnecessary money sink just like our local government entity has become.
Think of a game of cards for example. You have the most amazing card game you’ve ever wanted to play, but instead of one box the deck is inside three same boxes. The visualistics of the boxes are just different.
America wants to export it horrible culture, Europe would be flooded with their garbage, and no way to stop it.
Is EU in it’s today form of governance a threat to Democracy ? If yes then TTIP is simply another proof – result as to what kind of “Democracy” EU is promoting. Meaning TTIP is the result not the cause of the problem.
Balls.
No but to economy.
If this TTIP takes place it means that they want to do the same lifestyle for the european nations as in USA! Rubish food and services for ordinary people, all the best for the rich- how long the E.U. would last without solidarity?!
Without any doubt ! And I read yesterday that Israhell would be invited to join, what a nightmare !
.
The EU is the threat to democracy.
An Unelected commission creating laws that are rubber stamped by the unrepresentative European Parliament that ignores the people they claim to represent.
It’s time to leave the antidemocratic EU.
Is it just me or do most elected representatives ignore the people they claim to represent…? That’s pretty much a failing of democracy as a concept. Once you get rid of the EU, it’ll be national government who are unrepresentative, after that it’ll be the regional government. It’s a neverending trudge of disappointment, I fear.
An unelected legislative commission does not need to worry about popularity contests at the very least. Though it’s as rife with conflicts of interest and foolishness as anything else, I imagine.
So Peter, you would have liked living in the Soviet Union? Or some other state like Germany 33-45 or Spain 39-75?
The European Commission is a Politburo that is illegitimate, and has no popular mandate whatsoever. National governments do because of the national ‘demos’ in the respective countries, but ‘demos’ does not exist on European level that is why the EU is undemocratic and illegitimate.
what would the worthless eu know about democracy?…sweet F.A.!!!!
Yes and no depending on how overprotective the treaty is to the company’s. Why is the big companies having to mutch power while small one have little or no power
I think the usa is in much bigger crisis than the eu. actullay there is a civil war now in the the usa. racism, violence, cultural, and ecomincal crisis is a daily problem there. But there is a big potential in humans, and citizens, as well as in eu. So the result of this pact mostly depend on the cooperation of citizens.
Yes
Explanatory piece: http://m.strategic-culture.org/news/2015/04/27/the-transatlantic-partnership-and-monetary-sovereignty-europe.html
Croatia state referendum rules were changed for EU vote. Instead of 50% +1 vote of citizens voters (nation majority) needed it was changed to 50% + 1 vote of people that participated in referendum. Which means that if only 3 persons participated and 2 were for and 1 against it would count as “democratic” decision of a whole nation!
And prior to referendum, Croatian Minister of Foreign Relations and European Integrations Vesna Pusi? (second part of the title related to EU was added years before we joined EU; similar happened with EU flags on all official posts) stated on national RTV that if referendum “fails” it will be repeated every 6 months (legal minimum break between same referendums) until we “pass”…
EU, especially federal super-state, is a collectivist fascist wet dream that slowly becomes nightmare reality.
Wake up, and resist!!!
Free trade is one thing, democracy another
The only reason of.negociate TTIP like they are doing, without public speaking, is because it is not good for the citizens
Is no good . It ties the hands of the government and the population, to act, it gives the multinationals all the power of free decision over us.
The EU is not democratic (apart from the parliament) therefore every treaty signed by the EU is not democratic in it’s origin. The EU is THE organisation to help the neo-liberal economy to its breakthrough. First we need to build an EU WITH common social standards, not WITHOUT. Then we need to obey our own rules for capital, goods, services AND people. Everyone who does not agree to these can’t be our partner. Additionally we should take a good look on our “friends”. I think the USA cannot be our fried anymore.
Maybe but I hope for economical union with US .
So, in essence, you hate the poor and middle class and want to abolish healthcare for people that cannot afford it (which is what the USA does).
tt?p is a slavey.
Yes, it is.
Yes
TTIP: the biggest threat to democracy you’ve never heard of
A trade agreement between the EU and the US currently under secret negotiation will have a profound impact upon our democracy, but it’s been overshadowed by more typical eurosceptic coverage in the media.
it is very dangerous, we do not need such treaty
TTIP is the american cartels grabbing power, no more no less. GMOs ,peroxide chicken, beef and pork full of hormones, the list goes on.
Europe has been under the thumb of the usa since the end of worldwar 2. The ecb, european commision and the rest are american stooges. America itself has no working federal govt, banking cartels and corps rule the day. Obama is a monsanto lobbyist, and junker his personal sock puppet.
Dont for 1 minute think these guys are there for us, dont be fooled..
Most american so called politicians belong in jail.
These cartels hate democracy, human rights, etc.
America itself is a sinking ship, it owes trillions in interest to the fed (which is a privately owned bank). The fed has them by the peruvials, they are broke!
They want to completely control europe , it has nothing to do with trade.
Every country these cartels have grabbed in the past has been plundered .
Europe cant say no, the cartels wont allow it. Eu goverments are selected by the cartels , so to make a long story short , it doesnt matter what we want or think , things have already been decided. Back room deals, and a eu commission that pushes the agenda regardless of what people want or think is proof enough for me that these guys arent kosher.
The people have no real representation, none. They choose who gets elected, and who will do right by them, not us.
People whom think different need to stop looking through rose colored glasses.
It is as the EU is.
All the EU project is a project of POWER not democracy…have you people learned anything from the implementation of the Euro/Eurozone?
Ttip is for financial domination. It’s a danger for small-scale companies and countries
Why EU is negociating with USA without the people. Why is not this topic in the streets (at least is not in Spain)
EU, especially European Commission is a direct threat to democracy and freedom! TTiP is just a consequence of non-democratic policies of EU.
It is
From economical perspective definitelly not. Just check results with quotas, without quotas, free trade and embargo…than speak people
yes and so is youe eu.
As long as the people do not support it, then yes it is… If the people do not want something, why is it imposed on them? Or at least why isn’t there a proper information/debate about it before it is implemented?
Chloe POTAMITI I haven’t read this particular article yet, but this is the site. If you open it and click Like or Follow, you will probably start seeing their articles in your News Feed. 🎈
Chloe Potamiti. 🔝
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It is being implemented behind closed doors by unelected bureaucrats while ignoring the will of the peoples of Europe & Great Britain.
TTIP is the exact opposite of the democratic process. .
As far as your commission is concerned we should shut up and except their dictates like good little citizens, it is the EU way.
If they can get away with TTIP who knows what they will force on us next.
TTIP is a bullshit
As an american I can tell you a weak Europe is going to be culturally and economically decimated
No.
If it is a democratic project, why has it required citizens to press our politicians to talk about it?
yes it is the most undemocratic project of our time and if you don’t think so you don’t understand how it will work and impact your life…
ttip is really a threat to democracy.
YES!
yes it’s great threat to democracy because the world can’t be governed by the banks and the multinational companies
TTIP will create more jobs in EU
Nebulous agenda, focus on selling the deal, or duping, the population. No discussions of the industrial structure that Europe needs to create internally, and a take-it-or-leave-it approach to forcing a deal on the population as the end game. There are no politicians with a vision that comes even close to understanding what “structural change” means when Draghi speaks, or all his predecessors spoke, and the civil servants feeding the politicians with ideas and programs reflect this poverty of ideas. Hence, the TTIP process will lead to some measures which will in themselves look beneficial to some. Still it is exposing a federation that is just entering QE, just coming out of a profound business cycle to a federation that already took the “cure” and is in established growth pattern with cash accumulation way superior to the European firms. From frequency licensing to M&A, America will be at cruising speed, with Europe lagging. Europe has not come close to completing banking reforms, single market in telecommunications, and similar in many fundamental markets and regulated environments. We are exposed to a divided continent on OGM seeds, but the lobby will sneak in through the cracks in a divided Europe and will try to suggest that we got a good deal on selling Chupa Chupas in the US, so on average, we are “better off”. Some economists with impeccable credentials will be wheelchaired in front of TV screens and serve us mumbo jumbo charts, but American, AMERICAN Nobel prize winner Stiglitz warns Europe about TTIP. It is a spin doctored by the same imperialists who like Turkey joining the EU for purposes of having a more numerous, larger territory under “management”. TTIP is a fallacy and even staunch defenders of the EU, the common currency and everything EU like me gets a jawdrop when confronted with hallucinations like TTIP. Deep-six TTIP today.
It is not only the American big corporations who want to implement such treaty on European small businesses and smaller countries, unfortunately the German, French and other big corporations are involved as well! They want to destroy and smash the small family businesses of Europe, because they see that is the middle class society as a potential “enemy”..
yes it is !! we do not need no restriction … free market … free economy … that democracy, because that is in the intrest of the people and that’s what we want !!! F America …
Read it.
Democracy in times of confusion – why should`t it be ok if elected governments give us better chances due to open treat?
Yes, it is.
Considering that they are keeping secret all the debate to the public, the answer is automatic,
Yes is it! Allowing companies to create their own judicial system is not a democratic process. And that is just the TTIP OF THE ICEBERG.
After all those days hearing about it I still have no idea of what TTIP is…
To hell with the restrictions. The E.U. and U.S. needs together a free Market. Anyway don’t we have already a free market inside the E.U. ?
Yes we need it barely !
Of course it is.
No TTIP for EU we 💚Demokratie
Just read the facts, what has been made available on the web
Yes
A big threat, that is why they are negotiating them in secret. Read Stiglitz. It does a lot of harm and to people and to governments.
yes it is a threat, as long as it prohibits free movement of info and products
Yes 100%.
No, it’s just a drived protest.
Yes, it is a deal that will benefit a couple of big multinational companies and will be bad for everyone else. Also horrible for food safety and environmental standards.
Timeo multinational corporations’ lobbies et dona ferentes
It is and they are not.
Do you have a link where we can read the whole TTIP? No? It’s classified? How is that democratic, then? Here’s the answer to your question.
No, no they are not exaggerating, quite on the contrary. TTIP is THE treath to democracy.
@George trade negotiations in general must have some level of secrecy. Because both parties at the same time are negotiating trade deals with other countries. Revealing all documents and positions would drastically undermine negotiation process.
The European Parliament and the European Commission have said on a number of cases that the agreement will not lower EU’s standards. We gave them a mandate, we must therefore show some trust.
P.S. The European Commission in April released 9 EU texts on negotiations. However, three months later the public has barely accessed the documents. On an average, texts in English have been accessed only 2300 times. This corresponds to approximately 760 clicks per month and 25 clicks per day.
I do not believe there are any exaggerations. But, if you think the critics are exaggerating, well then, come out, publish the proposals and prove them wrong. It is as simple as that.
The same is being said about the trans-pacific trade partnership, between the US and Asia. I first thought that since it was classified, the threats were exaggerated, but it seems like there’s a pattern to kill public governance and enforce the rule of corporations
.
The fact that Martin Schulz stopped the vote because it looked like your MEP’s might not vote the way the European Commission had ordered them to answers your question.
Rule without consent is a dictatorship, not a democracy.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/watch-ttip-vote-in-european-parliament-descends-into-chaos-after-ukip-meps-spark-protest-10310457.html
Separatism breeds dictators! Europe is better together, warts and all!
exaggerating. Waaaay so.
No TTIP!
.
When the rule of law is taken out of the hands of the people have given to an unelected commission you know democracy is about to be buried.
http://www.nottip.org.uk
Dark TTIP
TTIP, is a complete takeover by American corporations. More then money, they will suck the very soul out of Europe
The US and TTIP is a huge threat for mankind . Get rid of the US and US corporations. Because Europe , Asia , etc. dont need them.
It is a threat. If we want an unharfull ttip for our democracies we have to give up the ISDS. Not to change it in something nice, but to give it up. The law of market have to be out of our politics and I am very disapointing to PES because they are inside the majority with EPP and could change that but they prefered to avoid the debate and sign it in the secret.
No citizen on either side has ever been informed. Opponents, who are opposing to “leakages”. Humiliating indeed!
YES, xTHREE HUNDRED TIMES 4 TTIP !!!
It is.
Yes, it treads upon democracy that is why it is kept secret.
I need to know more to say sure.
It is!
Is this a joke? are you really asking for citizen’s opinion about such a big issue that will affect our lives in all possible ways, when even members of the European Parliament, chosen by the people, have NOT access to the TTIP documents? Is this public participation? Is this democracy? Is this the Europe we want?
Ttip is chance for business.
TTIP is not a treat to democracy. It will make competition harder , but also chance will be better. So it is treat to those who are not prepared to compete. So what do the opponents want? Protection . Against what or whom? American goods . Why ? USA goods are of good quality. If europeans are afraid of gmo , they can protect themselves reading declarations on the articles. But it is not only the matter of food. Anyway , is the european food healthy ? How could it be if there is neither expiry date , nor preferable cosumption for sausages and other meat products? So what do the opponents want? Opponents are hipocrits or they do not understand.
It definitely is a huge threat! USA is using even now the differences and the poverty of European states on his corporations benefit! For example the European Parlament doesn’t talk about real issues like Monsanto and other GMO food producers which entered into EU market by the Spanish or Romanian government let them to plant their rubbish food and poisoning all Europe! Nobody can sue them because the Monsanto corporate itself is the USA state and backed by Obama himself…
Where is the text?
What a stupid question!
Opponents oppose secrecy, stupid! Not ttip that we have no idea what it is.
TTIP might need some adjustments but in general how can say no to 100 billion Euro in growth per Year!!
It’s not an exageration. The Democratic way of life demands that people are «involved» in political organization and decision-making. TTIP is being orchestrated behind peoples’ backs. Ordinary people, voters, are not even being told of what is being negociated, let alone «involved» the peocess.
I gave him the benefit of the doubt, but I have now come to the conclusion that Ivan (the Terrible) Burrows is just another nutcase who can’t see the wood for the trees.
Apart from the forecasted goodness of profitability, more open markets and competition, etc… Who believes that it is democratic to negotiate in the shadows something with such a huge potential impact in European Consumers ?
For the people “without the people” ??
Sure! It is the Threat to democracy in every European country. Whatever laws could be voted in whatever country not allowing corporations to sell more goods/ to market up the top/ to get the maximum profits THEY will have the right to get compensation from that country despite the citizens’ or the governement’s wills. Thus making votes and autodetermination of each single country totally unuseful! Citizens and countries in few corporations’ hands.
German nonsense as usual pepperred with Berlin’s morony and idiocy.
Obviously most people here don’t even know what democracy actually is: Democracy is nothing else but the people’s right to elect who’s going to govern them. Democracy doesn’t involve people in decision making, unless it would be direct democracy, like in Switzerland. Most other European countries don’t have a direct democracy, so saying that TTIP against democracy is completely wrong reasoning, it’s exactly in compliance with how democracy works: elected politicians who decide for people, what’s right and wrong.
Anyway not further regarding the nonsense I read here about democracy and to say something about TTIP itself; I believe that TTIP is the right thing to do as long as there is no real free trade.
Are you kidding me? Thw opponents are right we are wasting our rifht for money
A Public Referendum is needed over this Fraudulent #TTIP débâcle’s y`see O.o
Ivan Burrows, again you are wrong. The EU parliament is elected and chooses the European commission. This is exactly the same principle as local elections where the chosen parties will form a cabinet. The council if Europe (which I personally consider as useless, but that is a different discussion) consists of the national heads of states, which are in that position by the national Democratic standard.
So I can only conclude that the EU bodies are equally democratically elected as any national equivalent.
Proponents are exaggerating, not opponents.