Leeds Against TTIP recently joined Global Justice Now, 38 Degrees, War on Want, Friends of the Earth Europe, UNISON, Stop TTIP MCR, anti Fracking, anti GMO and Stop Aids activists on a 2-day trip to Brussels. Together we represented the UK anti-TTIP movement at the 8th round (too-many) of negotiations on TTIP taking place in the EU Parliament on the 3rd and 4th of February.
As was highlighted in our tour of corporate lobbying in the EU sector of Brussels (within a convenient stones-throw from EU negotiators), big business interests dominate the policy agenda in the European Parliament. There is an estimate of 21,000 highly paid corporate lobbyists (60% of total lobbyists in Brussels) in the European quarter seeking to influence policy, regulation and legislation. Meanwhile those representing trade unions and NGOs (the remaining 30%) are extremely underrepresented leading to a watering down of social and environmental protection laws and policies. Corporate lobbyists enjoy privileged access to the European Commission, and billions of euros are spent every year to make sure that their voices are heard louder than other interest groups. TTIP is a shining example of the dramatically disproportionate influence enjoyed by big business, with 92% of lobbying on TTIP coming from the private sector compared to only 4% from public interest groups.
At 8.30am on the 4th, the anti-TTIP group convened spontaneously outside the European Management Centre where the negotiations were being held. The Centre was in quiet area of the city – on the outskirts of the European quarter. Scottish representatives from 38 Degrees raised their kilts in symbolic opposition to the secrecy around TTIP.
We then moved on to the official protest, which took place at Rond-Point Schumann outside the European Commission in the heart of the EU quarter. Over 600 activists from across Europe, accompanied by a giant inflatable Trojan Horse, gathered to demand an end to TTIP negotiations. The sun was out, and the mood was hopeful and determined as we chanted anti-TTIP slogans and listened to brilliant speeches.
In the afternoon we visited the European Parliament to raise our concerns with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). Many MEPs were grateful for the hard work campaigners against TTIP have been doing raising awareness on the ground. In response to the public criticism of secrecy around the negotiating process, MEPs have now been allowed access to the negotiating documents in secret reading rooms. Although they are still not entitled to disclose information, informing MEPs has increased political negotiating power over this corporate driven trade deal.
Green MEPs are staunchly opposed to the deal. Many Labour MEPs also expressed their concerns with the worst aspects of the deal, with MEP Jude Kirton-Darling claiming that she will only support a TTIP that explicitly excludes the NHS, doesn’t include ISDS and only raises rather than lowers standards. In our opinion, the precedent has already been set by the ‘conciliatory gesture’ of lifting the ban on the cleaning of beef with lactic acid by the EU. TTIP is about lowering standards in order for big businesses to increase profits at the expense of our hard won regulatory policies. But it is at least good to hear a Labour MEP claim that they will refuse to support the deal in such circumstances!
International trade deals such as TTIP, CETA and the TPP that are being negotiated under the table must become part of election agendas for if they go ahead they will completely redesign global markets. MEP Molly Scott Cato for Greens South West stated that:
‘These deals are not just about trade, but total global financial deregulation’
A member of the Corporate Europe Observatory stated:
‘If TTIP, CETA and TPP go ahead, world trade covered by ISDS mechanisms will increase from 20% to 80% meaning a global power shift away from states to the private sector’