Greenpeace publishes leaks of part of the text of the TTIP about health issues

USPA NEWS - Greenpeace Netherlands got 248 pages of confidential transatlantic free trade agreement draft (Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement, or TTIP TAFTA). Greenpeace publishes the leak of part of the text of the Treaty confirms the Transatlantic health threats and environmental and climate.

Greenpeace Netherlands got 248 pages of confidential transatlantic free trade agreement draft (Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement, or TTIP TAFTA) and published the leak of part of the text of the Treaty confirms the Transatlantic health threats and environmental and climate, on May1st. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These documents will be fully made public by Greenpeace Netherlands on Monday May 2 at 11am. They represent 2/3 of the text of the treaty in April with the opening of the 13th round of negotiations between the United States and the European Union in New York. They cover thirteen chapters on issues ranging from telecommunications to pesticides, food agriculture through trade barriers.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "These documents confirm what we've long said Jorgo Riss, Director of Greenpeace European Unit: this treaty would put the interests of big business in the center of the process of political and legislative decision to the detriment of the environmental or health issues public. We knew that the European position was bad but the documents show that the US position is even worse. A compromise between the two would be disastrous. "THE MAIN RISKS IDENTIFIED BY GREENPEACE---------- - The old rule of environmental protection removed----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The rule of "general exception" 70 years old and consecrated by the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade signed in 1947) and the WTO is absent from the document. This principle allows nations to "regulate commerce" to "protect the life, health of humans, animals and plants."-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE UNDERMINED BY THE TTIP------------------------------------------------------- - The fight against climate change undermined by the TTIP-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In documents revealed tomorrow, business interests appear to be subject to any rules or CO2 emissions reduction targets. Worse, the reduction measures seems to be hampered in the chapters on "regulatory cooperation" and "market access" for industrial goods. For example, the regulation of imports of high fuel CO2 emitters such as those from oil sands would be proscribed.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE FORGOTTEN AS ENSHRINED IN THE ARTICLE 191 OF EU----------------------- The precautionary principle as enshrined in the European Constitution (Article 191), is not mentioned in any of the thirteen chapters revealed. For cons, the US managed to insert into several chapters their approach to environmental or health risk is to "manage" hazardous substances rather than avoid them. This would undermine the regulator's ability to take preventive measures against such substances such as endocrine disrupters.-------------------------------------------------------------------------- - A corporate control of major decisions : While protecting the environment or health is harmed, large companies have opportunities to access early stages of decision making. By publishing these documents, Greenpeace calls on all European policy makers, parliamentarians to read and grasp both the consultation requirements was previously restricted. This publication finally allow millions of citizens to understand what is negotiated on their behalf. "The effects of the Treaty are a priori subtle but ultimately devastating, said Jorgo Riss. EU laws would be judged on their impact on trade and investment, to the detriment of the environment and health. " Source Greenpeace Netherlands, The morning ( Paris, Brussels, May 1 - 19h) published documents represent a long and complex legal text. Greenpeace Netherlands has joined with a group of German journalists of the WDR, NDR and Süddeutscher Zeitung