Transparency
Published in El Pais
(Spain) on 21 May 2014
by Joan Boada I. Masoliver (link to original)
(Spain) on 21 May 2014
by Joan Boada I. Masoliver (link to original)
Translated from
by Sean P. Hunter.
Edited by Bora Mici.
A few days after the European elections, and without a very promising turnout, I would like to put my two cents in and explain to the citizenry a subject of which little has been spoken but that can help make one aware of the importance of participating in elections. It's about the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the European Union and the U.S. that is developing among secrecy worthy of the Vatican. In June 2013, the negotiations began; this week, the fifth round started between the U.S. Department of Commerce and the European Commission, a non-elected organization that negotiates behind the Parliament's back.
No unions, ecological organizations, consumer groups or governments of member states participated in this negotiation. However, according to Ecologists in Action, of the 130 previous negotiation meetings, 113 have been with lobbyist groups from the automotive, pharmaceutical and agribusiness industries, among others. In fact, on the European side, the meetings are run by Karel de Gucht, a trade commissioner who is being investigated for defrauding 900,000 euros from Belgian tax authorities. All a guarantee of transparency!
The question is: What objective does this treaty have? According to its supporters, it will improve employment and economic growth. It will create the world's biggest free trade zone, which will represent almost half of the global gross domestic product and will be composed of 800 million consumers, not citizens. They confirm 2 million jobs. How do they intend to do it? By means of a reduction in environmental, social and labor standards and by increasing the privileges of corporations, so they can continue doing business and enter into the public sector: that is to say, increasing their wealth by deregulating.
Let's look at some of their competition, known from the few leaks that were obtained:
- To obtain the increase in commerce, the "Mutual Recognition" clause will be created between the standards of the European Union and the United States, that is to say, harmonize downward the legislation, while affecting health, environment and labor rights protection regulations. For example, we all know that the EU adopts precautionary principles when it comes to selling products that have not been previously demonstrated to be safe for human health or the environment. On the other hand, in the United States, this principle does not exist, and companies apply unrestricted marketing until the scientific evidence does not demonstrate its harmfulness.
- Our universal and equitable health care system will be put on the same level as that of the United States, where basic social rights are not guaranteed. Another example: The United States has not ratified six of the eight fundamental regulations of the International Labor Organization. This means a serious loss of regulator control under the core idea that "if it's good for us, it has to be good for them." Thus the hormone-tainted meat that is freely consumed in the United States, or the commercialization of GMO foods or disinfection of chickens with chlorine, will come to the EU without any problem.
- A resolution mechanism will be established for the purpose of resolving controversies between the investor and the Investor State Dispute Settlement, that is, a measure of investment protection. This will consist of huge corporations disputing the state laws that go against their interests in an "International Arbitration Tribunal." We have examples such as the Dutch health insurance company Achmea, which won 22 million euros against Slovakia when this country froze the process of privatizing health care. In the end, the treaty violates the state's freedom to legislate on social, labor, health care or environmental matters.
- The European public health care or water management systems will open up to participation by U.S. corporations. Thus, governments will not be able to recover services that were outsourced or privatized, even if they were in shambles. Our universal and equitable health care system will be put on the same level as the U.S. model, where basic social rights are not guaranteed by the state.
Ultimately, it is about an accord that places the interests of multinational corporations before the rights of the citizenry, and it is developing without publicity, transparency or democratic control. This lack of transparency also carries over to Spain since the ATCI has not been brought up in the campaigns of the large parties or in the mainstream media.
Yes, we know that liberals, people's parties and social democrats are in agreement (Socialist Worker's Party of Spain, Socialist Party of Catalonia), and that the Left Plural and Green are against it. We also know that the European Parliament can reject the treaty, like they did in 2012 with the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, after massive protests held in various European capitals. Next Sunday is a time to remove from Europe these anti-democratic clouds that impede us from seeing with clarity the original project of peace, cohesion and social justice.
No unions, ecological organizations, consumer groups or governments of member states participated in this negotiation. However, according to Ecologists in Action, of the 130 previous negotiation meetings, 113 have been with lobbyist groups from the automotive, pharmaceutical and agribusiness industries, among others. In fact, on the European side, the meetings are run by Karel de Gucht, a trade commissioner who is being investigated for defrauding 900,000 euros from Belgian tax authorities. All a guarantee of transparency!
The question is: What objective does this treaty have? According to its supporters, it will improve employment and economic growth. It will create the world's biggest free trade zone, which will represent almost half of the global gross domestic product and will be composed of 800 million consumers, not citizens. They confirm 2 million jobs. How do they intend to do it? By means of a reduction in environmental, social and labor standards and by increasing the privileges of corporations, so they can continue doing business and enter into the public sector: that is to say, increasing their wealth by deregulating.
Let's look at some of their competition, known from the few leaks that were obtained:
- To obtain the increase in commerce, the "Mutual Recognition" clause will be created between the standards of the European Union and the United States, that is to say, harmonize downward the legislation, while affecting health, environment and labor rights protection regulations. For example, we all know that the EU adopts precautionary principles when it comes to selling products that have not been previously demonstrated to be safe for human health or the environment. On the other hand, in the United States, this principle does not exist, and companies apply unrestricted marketing until the scientific evidence does not demonstrate its harmfulness.
- Our universal and equitable health care system will be put on the same level as that of the United States, where basic social rights are not guaranteed. Another example: The United States has not ratified six of the eight fundamental regulations of the International Labor Organization. This means a serious loss of regulator control under the core idea that "if it's good for us, it has to be good for them." Thus the hormone-tainted meat that is freely consumed in the United States, or the commercialization of GMO foods or disinfection of chickens with chlorine, will come to the EU without any problem.
- A resolution mechanism will be established for the purpose of resolving controversies between the investor and the Investor State Dispute Settlement, that is, a measure of investment protection. This will consist of huge corporations disputing the state laws that go against their interests in an "International Arbitration Tribunal." We have examples such as the Dutch health insurance company Achmea, which won 22 million euros against Slovakia when this country froze the process of privatizing health care. In the end, the treaty violates the state's freedom to legislate on social, labor, health care or environmental matters.
- The European public health care or water management systems will open up to participation by U.S. corporations. Thus, governments will not be able to recover services that were outsourced or privatized, even if they were in shambles. Our universal and equitable health care system will be put on the same level as the U.S. model, where basic social rights are not guaranteed by the state.
Ultimately, it is about an accord that places the interests of multinational corporations before the rights of the citizenry, and it is developing without publicity, transparency or democratic control. This lack of transparency also carries over to Spain since the ATCI has not been brought up in the campaigns of the large parties or in the mainstream media.
Yes, we know that liberals, people's parties and social democrats are in agreement (Socialist Worker's Party of Spain, Socialist Party of Catalonia), and that the Left Plural and Green are against it. We also know that the European Parliament can reject the treaty, like they did in 2012 with the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, after massive protests held in various European capitals. Next Sunday is a time to remove from Europe these anti-democratic clouds that impede us from seeing with clarity the original project of peace, cohesion and social justice.