If this is defeated won't individual deals between each country have to be struck? That seems likely to have a worse outcome for Europe as countries will be played against each other.
EU countries cannot make their own bilateral trade agreements.
European Citizens’ Initiative against TTIP and CETA
51–60 of 100 posts
Re: European Citizens’ Initiative against TTIP and CETA
#52I'm from Belgium, Karel De Gucht (who tried to get ACTA through and the guy who is obviously behind TTIP and CETA also) is also from Belgium, here are some things i know about him or his methods: Investigation for tax fraud and insider trading ( http://goo.gl/wnBN95 ). He is never going to get punished (the judges are his friends). If he sues me about writing this, i'm probably fucked These initiatives are trade agre…
I see no reason to distrust the whole of the EU just because they don't reject Karel De Gucht. After all, if Belgium stands behind him, the EU can't do much. If that isn't satisfying for you, I recommend distrusting the EU Commission. That's what I do. Our best hope is to shoot this thing down when it has to be ratified by the EU parliament. During the last legislative period, the parliament has shown that it can and…
I can think of plenty of other reasons to distrust the EU.
The EU parliament is the only aspect that is partially on the side of the people. But on the other end there's the EU Commission, the council of ministers and the entire corrupt EU bureaucracy that is beyond any form of oversight.
Parliament is the least powerful element of the EU, and any positive news that reaches HN from the EU is usually about parliament managing to pull off a rare victory over all of those other forces. (For instance Net Neutrality or defeating ACTA.)
And this only after massive popular lobbying of said parliament. EU parliament certainly isn't "firmly" on our side, but since their the only part of the EU that is actually democratically elected we can occasionally get a small majority to interrupt lining their pockets and take a stand.
The EU itself is a backdoor for treaties like TTIP and CETA. Without it, such treaties would have to go through the democratic processes of sovereign nations, which, although far from perfect, are most certainly more transparent and democratic than the EU. (At least, that was the case until the EU started including blatantly corrupt nations.)
If we can stop this, it's despite the EU, certainly not because of it.
Re: European Citizens’ Initiative against TTIP and CETA
#53TTIP is anti-liberal, anti-democratic, and corrupt. In other words, in the best traditions of post-Bush America. Please don't export this shit to Europe.
Re: European Citizens’ Initiative against TTIP and CETA
#54For anyone who wants to know more about any form of "trade agreement" the EU is up to. https://www.laquadrature.net/ is a very good documented website. Here is everything about TTIP, also known as TAFTA https://www.laquadrature.net/en/TAFTA
TAFTA = the Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Agreement
TTIP = Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
Re: European Citizens’ Initiative against TTIP and CETA
#55Earlier quoted context omitted.
The goal is to stop this in its current form. It's currently being negotiated in secret, which is never a good sign. It's also very likely to once again include all kinds of directives greatly benefitting a few lobbying partners without the EU citizens knowing what's going on until it's too late.
EU citizens ? Why do they matter ? The EU fought hard to get two legal precedents : 1) that international treaties preceed the constitutions of member states (and any and all other laws). 2) that the European Commission would be allowed to agree to international treaties on behalf of member states. There is nobody that can stop this that isn't already in power and Volcker can push this through without ratification by…
(Germany only, don't know about other states)
1) The national constition is the highest part of the German law, not EU law. The courts cooperate in many ways and co-exist, but EU law is not above the Constition / Grundgesetz. (See for example http://www.bpb.de/nachschlagen/lexika/177026/grundgesetz-und...)
2) The TTIP has to be ratified by the member states. (See for example http://www.bmwi.de/DE/Service/suche,did=630990.html)
Re: European Citizens’ Initiative against TTIP and CETA
#56I'm from Belgium, Karel De Gucht (who tried to get ACTA through and the guy who is obviously behind TTIP and CETA also) is also from Belgium, here are some things i know about him or his methods: Investigation for tax fraud and insider trading ( http://goo.gl/wnBN95 ). He is never going to get punished (the judges are his friends). If he sues me about writing this, i'm probably fucked These initiatives are trade agre…
This is one very good argument against the EU in its entirety. We don't need crooked politicians from a random country making decisions for the rest of the EU. It seems like things are going terribly wrong since this project started. The only gain we got is a higher dose of cocaine in the urine of the EU parliament members.
Re: European Citizens’ Initiative against TTIP and CETA
#57"Public interest" is mostly an excuse for unnecessary statism and senseless regulation of European bureaucrats. European economy is very weak compared to that of US, and proponents of regulations under the guise of "public interest" have zero legitimacy because the results are terrible. Allowing corporations to free themselves from the shackles of regulation will benefit average citizen of both continents by increasi…
"European economy has barely grown for 15 years and these agreements are a welcome development."
Good, keep it this way. We don't need more economic growth because the 90% of it goes straight to billionaires and the average worker don't benefit from it anyways. What we really need is an economy that does not rely on growth and mass production of toxic waste.
Re: European Citizens’ Initiative against TTIP and CETA
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
Please define "fine", throwaway28974. And for whom?
For everyone, by default. Please give a pair of two EU countries, one of which is better of because it has struck a deal concerning free trade with the United States in the last two decades that was denied to the other country. I'm curious.
You are right. In US there is no good healthcare and this is the most expensive system that provides the least value for an _average_ individual.
Education, same.
This is what should be exported to the rest of the world? Who are you kidding? The only thing USA could export is guns and dirt bikes.
Re: European Citizens’ Initiative against TTIP and CETA
#59ttip is an undemocratic attack on civil rights.
Devised by big corps for big corps.
A destorted result of profit thinking whith forseeable devastating inpact on citizens and environment.
There is a simple logic here ...FOR...PROFIT...ONLY...
THE FUTURE I imagine them super rich counting there money on the smoking remains of what once WAS our beautifull plannet. PROBABLY BEING DUMB ArSE HAPPY FOR HAVING MADE SUCH A HUGE PROFIT.
ACTION: STOP THIS BUNCH OF IMBECILE F. UPS BY ANY MEANS SIMPLY BY EXPOSURE (de gucht is a criminal)
Re: European Citizens’ Initiative against TTIP and CETA
#60"Public interest" is mostly an excuse for unnecessary statism and senseless regulation of European bureaucrats. European economy is very weak compared to that of US, and proponents of regulations under the guise of "public interest" have zero legitimacy because the results are terrible. Allowing corporations to free themselves from the shackles of regulation will benefit average citizen of both continents by increasi…
"European economy has barely grown for 15 years and these agreements are a welcome development." Good, keep it this way. We don't need more economic growth because the 90% of it goes straight to billionaires and the average worker don't benefit from it anyways. What we really need is an economy that does not rely on growth and mass production of toxic waste.
Are you arguing the benefits of a stagnant economy? I don't understand how that could be a good thing. The economy needs to at least match growth of the population, or else that means you have unemployment or lower wages. But if that's what you want just to stick it to the billionaires...