Articles

A year ago, on May 10th 2011, the Spanish activist and writer Ramón Fernández Durán died. Together with the Transnational Institute and Ecologistas en Acción, Corporate Europe Observatory has just published an English edition of his last book, the Breakdown of Global Capitalism. Here Belen Balanya talks about why the book is so important, and shares her memories of the author.

A letter was sent by Testbiotech and Corporate Europe Observatory to the member states regarding Management Board of EFSA. The letter is about the case of Mella Frewen, who was nominated by the European Commission to the EFSA Management Board. Mella Frewen's previous positions include Director for Government Affairs, Europe, Middle East & Africa, for Monsanto, where she dealt with a number of issues including agricultural biotechnology and agro-chemistry. We believe that the appointment of Mella Frewen will create conflicts of interest within the food agency's management board.

As a member of the 'Troika', the European Commission (with the International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank) has been responsible for setting the loan conditions for Greece, Portugal and other countries receiving rescue loans in the context of the sovereign debt crisis. These conditions, which have been widely criticised for the emphasis on cutting public budgets, include in the cases of Greece and Portugal large-scale privatisation of public services, including water utilities. We believe that this privatisation conditionality is unacceptable and seriously undermines the right to

Those who stayed for the closing plenary heard calls for citizens' mobilization. In the face of frontal attacks to their rights citizens must reclaim democracy and policies that put people at the centre. Indeed, the roots of today's crisis go beyond economic policy: it is a governance issue.

The banking lobby in the European Union is waging a successful battle against regulation that will undercut international Basel rules. They’re succeeding in putting competition and the right to risky bets before concerns for financial stability.

Stepping Stones Christina Laskaridis (researcher at CorporateWatch) "Environment is a solution to the crisis" Tomas Tomilinas (Campaigner from Lithuania) Face aux politiques d'austérités, inventer une alternative juste et soutenable Maxime Combes (member of Attac France and Aitec) “The EU crisis is a governance issue” Virg

It was a great experience to observe the extraordinary level of preparation for 'EU in Crisis' conference in Brussels provided by CEO and TNI - with all draft final papers, speakers memos and other important info put in the participant folders and web. As a trade union member, and an activists for social rights and environment from Lithuania and thus Eastern Europe I got broad perspective about general EU social movement situation, networks and corporate lobbing monitoring think tanks and what direction the main players in this area suggest all of us to move.

Activists, campaigners, trade unionists and individuals joined together to call for a halt to the EU's Austerity Treaty at the two-day EU in Crisis conference, organised by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) and the Transnational Institute to mark CEO's 15th anniversary. Activist and writer, Susan George emphasised the anti-democratic nature of the austerity agenda, which has been imposed without debate or electoral support.