Dienstag, 6. September 2016, 18:30 - 21:00, Brüssel

CETA, TTIP - Two sides of the same coin?

AN INITIATIVE OF THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS OF THE EP

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the treaty being negotiated between the EU and the US, has been the focus of public debate in recent months. However, Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the trade agreement between the EU and Canada is nearing process of approval by the Council and the European Parliament. Following the same logic as TTIP, CETA aims at much more than fully opening the European market for Canadian goods and services and vice versa. CETA with its 42 chapters, about 1500 pages full of technical complexities, cannot longer be overlooked.

Proponents argue that these free trade agreements are a tool for gaining more prosperity by increasing GDP and creation of jobs through removing customs duties, putting an end to limited access to public contracts and stimulating investment by offering predictable conditions for investors. On the other side, critics underline the restriction of public authorities to regulate through regulatory cooperation, the privatization of justice by investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), rebranded as “Investment Court System” (ICS), and environmental consequences in a challenging context of global warming.

Democracy, common interest and fair trade are threatened in the interest of multinational corporations: our model of society is put into question. What do we really know about these agreements negotiated in secret? Which consequences could they have on citizens’ life and on our environment?

It is high time to increase awareness: this debate will be focusing on two questions: What are the challenges for new generation of free trade agreements? And what’s in CETA?
The following issues will be addressed:

  • Privatization, worker’s rights, regulatory capacity of public authorities
  • Environmental consequences, climate change, transparency
  • Dispute Settlement Procedure, investment protection standards, reformed Investment Court System approach

18.30: Welcome of participants and speakers
18.45 - 19.00: Presentation of the Progressive Caucus
19.00 - 19.50: New generation of free trade agreements: what are the challenges for the future?

  • Pascal Lamy, director-general of the World Trade Organization (2005-2013)
  • Jeronim Capaldo, Senior Research Fellow, Tufts University

Exchange of views
19.50 - 20.40 What’s in CETA?

  • Penny Clarke, Deputy General Secretary, Head of EU Policy, Trade, European Public Service Union (EPSU)
  • Cécile Toubeau, Manager Better Trade and Regulation, Transport and Environmen

Exchange of views

20.40 - 21.00 - Conclusion

  • Emmanuel Maurel, MEP S&D, INTA Committee
  • Anne-Marie Mineur, MEP GUE/NGL, INTA Committee
  • Yannick Jadot, MEP Greens/EFA, INTA Committee

Wo?

Europäisches Parlament ASP 1G2
Rue Wiertz 60
1047 Brüssel

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