More than 170 NGOs, together with Greenpeace, FoodWatch and the WWF, plus giant labor teams just like the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB) have joined the rally.
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Opponents say it will put too much power in the hands of multinational corporations, and that it is undemocratic and non-transparent.
“It’s great that the opposition parties are starting to stand up to the army of corporate lobbyists at Brussels who are the driving force behind this toxic trade deal”, said Global Justice Now director Nick Dearden.
Organizers say the demo represents a broad coalition of more than 30 civil society groups, including environmental, social, cultural and consumer activists, trade unions, civil rights and church organizations. The UK’s TTIP services offer explicitly includes hospital services. USOs such as daily delivery of mail to remote areas without extra charges aim at guaranteeing universal access to basic services at affordable prices. “What is at stake is our right to vital services, and the ability of public services to function in the public interest”.
Ms O’Reilly opened an inquiry into TTIP in July 2014, prompting the commission to publish key negotiating documents last January, the first time the European Union has made trade documents public while bilateral trade talks are ongoing. European nations have stricter regulations for things like genetically modified foods or workers benefits than the US does.
The report states that while there is the possibility for public services to be excluded from the trade deals, the various loopholes in negotiations makes it nearly impossible for this to work in reality.
“When this debate starts in the Labour Party, I will be saying clearly: We must oppose TTIP”.
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Based in the United Kingdom, Larry is passionate about all things news and technology related. But such an exclusion would certainly not be sufficient to undo the manifold other threats posed by CETA and TTIP as many more provisions endanger democracy and the well-being of citizens. As long as TTIP and CETA do not protect the ability to regulate in the public interest, they must therefore be rejected.
