Trade

The EU's trade policy aims to increase the 'competitiveness' of European companies – by guaranteeing them access to raw materials through often secretive free trade deals and by making sure that regulations do not stand in their way. CEO is challenging this craze for so-called competitiveness, which we believe in reality advances the interests of corporate Europe at the expense of social and environmental justice.

Civil society groups say no to investor-state dispute settlement in EU-US trade deal

17.12.2013

As U.S. and EU trade officials meet in Washington this week for a third round of negotiations on the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement, nearly 200 environmental, consumer and labor groups have urged EU and US officials not to include an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism in the deal. Corporate Europe Observatory is one of these groups.

Leaked proposal for EU-US trade deal increases business power in decision-making

16.12.2013

A leaked EU negotiation proposal for the EU-US trade agreement reveals the European Commission's plans to fundamentally change the way regulations will be adopted in the future. Such reforms, if adopted, could seriously undermine existing EU rules on food safety, consumer protection, the environment and many other areas as the proposals give new powers to business to call a halt to proposed legislation which conflicts with their interests, or to re-negotiate existing regulations.

Regulation - none of our business?

16.12.2013

A leaked EU negotiating proposal for the far-reaching free trade agreement with the US reveals the European Commission’s plans to fundamentally change the way regulations to protect consumers, labour and the environment will be adopted in the future.

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.

Over 50 civil society groups demand a paradigm shift in EU trade and investment policies

26.11.2013

As EU trade ministers and the European Commission are leaving for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations in Bali next week, a European alliance of over 50 civil society organisations is launching the Alternative Trade Mandate, a proposal to make EU trade and investment policy work for people and the planet, not just the profit interests of a few.

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".

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.

European Commission preparing for EU-US trade talks: 119 meetings with industry lobbyists

04.09.2013

In response to an access to documents request from CEO, the European Commission has released a list of 130 ‘meetings with stakeholders’ on the EU-US free trade talks. It shows that more than 93% of the Commission’s meetings with stakeholders during the preparations of the negotiations were with big business.

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).

EU-US trade deal will lead to a race to the bottom where only big business wins

04.10.2013

As the second round of negotiations on the proposed EU-US trade agreementkick off in Brussels next week, a new report published by the Seattle to Brussels Network (S2B) today reveals the true human and environmental costs of an EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Invest

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.

Trade

Civil society groups say no to investor-state dispute settlement in EU-US trade deal

Leaked proposal for EU-US trade deal increases business power in decision-making

Regulation - none of our business?

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

Over 50 civil society groups demand a paradigm shift in EU trade and investment policies

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

Leaked European Commission PR strategy: "Communicating on TTIP"

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

European Commission preparing for EU-US trade talks: 119 meetings with industry lobbyists

TTIP documents released by the European Commission

EU-US trade deal will lead to a race to the bottom where only big business wins

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

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