Trade

How is big business using the EU's trade and investment agreements to sideline people, planet and democracy?

The EU must make its lobby transparency register TTIP-proof!

11.12.2013

In the light of the clear risks which the TTIP talks pose to environmental and health protection, it is crucial that the EU's lobby transparency register helps create full visibility around industry lobbying of TTIP talks. Only a mandatory register which requires comprehensive and reliable information about lobbying will shed light on corporate lobby pressure on the TTIP talks.

EU-Canada Trade Agreement: More than 100 organizations oppose dangerous investor “rights” chapter in CETA

26.11.2013

The CETA “will include a controversial and unnecessary investment protection chapter and investor-to-state dispute settlement process (ISDS) that a growing number of countries are rejecting for good reasons,” says the transatlantic statement, which is endorsed by more than 80 organizations in the European Union, Canada and Quebec, including Corporate Europe Observatory.

Leaked European Commission PR strategy: "Communicating on TTIP"

25.11.2013

CEO has today published a leaked version of the European Commission's communication strategy for overcoming public skepticism about the controversial EU-US trade negotiations, the so-called Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The document was discussed at a meeting with EU member states on Friday 22 November. In order to "reduce fears and avoid a mushrooming of doubts", the Commission proposes to "further localise our communication effort at Member State level in a radically different way to what has been done for past trade initiatives".

La Comisión Europea prepara el acuerdo comercial con EE.UU celebrando 119 reuniones con grupos de presión corporativos

18.09.2013

En respuesta a una solicitud de acceso a documentos presentada por el Corporate Europe Observatory (Observatorio de la Europa corporativa – CEO, por sus siglas en inglés), la Comisión Europea ha hecho pública una lista de 130 “reuniones con partes interesadas” en relación el las conversaciones para un acuerdo de libre comercio entre la UE y EEUU. Al menos 119 de estas reuniones fueron con grandes empresas y sus grupos de presión.

TTIP documents released by the European Commission

09.10.2013

The New York Times has exposed how European Commission officials in meetings with big business lobbyists discussed demands by BusienssEurope and the US Chamber of Commerce to get a formal role in 'regulatory cooperation' to emerge from a future EU-US trade agreement (TTIP).

A Brave New Transatlantic Partnership: the social & environmental consequences of the proposed EU-US trade deal

04.10.2013

As the second round of negotiations on the EU-US trade agreement kick off in Brussels next week, a new report published by members of the Seattle to Brussels Network (S2B), including CEO, reveals the true human and environmental costs of the proposed deal. The report shows that the promises of job creation and growth are illusions; and that the real impetus behind a deal comes from major EU and US corporations that have joined forces to remove as many labour, health and environmental standards as possible in a devastating race to the bottom.

Investor privileges (ISDS)

Updated: A transatlantic corporate bill of rights - investor privileges in EU-US trade deal threaten public interest

04.10.2013

The EU negotiating mandate for a far-reaching free trade agreement with the US reveals the European Commission’s plans to enshrine more powers for corporations in the deal. The proposal follows a persistent campaign by industry lobby groups and law firms to empower large companies to challenge regulations both at home and abroad if they affect their profits.

342 civil society groups oppose deregulation and privatisation in proposed services agreement TISA

16.09.2013

Today, as governments meet in Geneva to negotiate a proposed Trade in Services Agreement (TISA), Corporate Europe Observatory, together with 340 other organizations representing hundreds of millions of people from nearly every country, called on governments to abandon the talks. Among the endorsers were 42 major international and regional networks, such as Public Services International (PSI), UNI Global Union, the European Federation of Public Services Unions (EPSU), the IndustriALL Global Union, the International Union of Food and Allied Workers (IUF) and the European Attac network.

Unravelling the spin: a guide to corporate rights in the EU-US trade deal

09.07.2013

This week marks the first round of negotiations for a far-reaching transatlantic trade deal. In the face of growing opposition to plans for expanded corporate powers in the proposed pact, the European Commission is trying to dispel concerns with propaganda. See through the rosy PR with Corporate Europe Observatory’s guide to investor-state dispute settlement.

No to a corporate driven agreement

08.07.2013

The first round of negotiations of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Agreement (TTIP) is starting today in Washington. With an open letter to President Obama, EU Commission President Barroso and EU Council President Van Rompuy, more than 60 organisations from Europe and the US have raised their voice. The letter shows their concerns about the coming negotiations and states their opposition to the use of behind-closed-door trade negotiations to change and lower public interest measures for the sake of commercial interests. CEO is one of the signatories.

Who’s scripting the EU-US trade deal?

17.06.2013

A far-reaching trade deal between the US and EU is to be negotiated, yet the European Commission has drawn a smokescreen over who is setting the agenda for its negotiating position. Amid concerns about the deal's social and environmental impacts, as well as what it will mean for democratic policy-making, Corporate Europe Observatory tried to find out what will be on the treaty table.

A transatlantic corporate bill of rights

03.06.2013

Leaked draft versions of the EU negotiating mandate for a far-reaching free trade agreement with the US reveal the European Commission’s plans to enshrine more powers for corporations in the deal. The proposal follows a persistent campaign by industry lobby groups and law firms to empower large companies to challenge regulations both at home and abroad if they affect their profits.