Green councillors will join forces with campaigners opposed to controversial ‘Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership’ (TTIP) agreement currently being negotiated between the European Union and the United States.
Among other proposals, the TTIP hands businesses the power to sue governments (including local councils) for profits they might have lost as a result of democratic decision-making on standards and safety. Campaigners also fear it adds to the growing threat of privatisation of public services such as the NHS, and undoes vital regulations that protect workers, the environment and food.
On both sides of the Atlantic elected representatives are only allowed limited access to information about the negotiations – while around 600 ‘corporate advisors’ have full access.
Greens are the only political party opposed to the TTIP, and have campaigned for transparency and a halt to negotiations both in the European Parliament and in the UK House of Commons. Brighton & Hove Green councillors are proposing a motion at next week’s Full Council meeting (17th July) highlighting the effect it will have on local public services.
Councillor Ollie Sykes, who is proposing the motion at Full Council next week, says:
“The proposed deal destroys democratic decision-making. TTIP is a huge threat to our high standards for the quality and safety of our food, the sources of our energy, workers’ rights and our privacy.
“Under the deal, food products allowed in the US, such as chemically-washed poultry, could be sold in the UK – even though it’s been previously banned here. US companies will even have the right to sue governments in secret courts if politicians try to reverse privatisation.
“This secretive deal could see corporate greed trump public need at all levels of government. It must be stopped.”
Notes
The Green Group’s motion can be viewed as part of the papers for the meeting on the council’s website here.
Among those also opposed to the TTIP are War on Want, the World Development Movement, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, the TUC and other trades unions.
More information on the campaign against the TTIP can be found here: http://www.ttip2014.eu/blog-detail/blog/id-30-reasons-why-greens-oppose-ttip.html