Update 2016: The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)
A charter for deregulation, an attack on jobs, an end to democracy
The resistance against TTIP, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, is alive and kicking. While national leaders of the interested parties like Obama and Merkel are trying to revive the negotiations, wishing to finalise them, people are organising protest in many places to mark their disagreement.
In Hanover 90.000 people from across Germany took to the streets on 23 April 2016 (after 250.000 have gathered in Berlin last year). The protests were organised on the wake of a meeting between Merkel and Obama in Hanover, making it very clear that they intend to bring the negotiations forward. They are also clearly ignoring the transatlantic resistance which has been gaining strength since 2014. The European Citizens Initiative against TTIP has been signed by almost 3.5 million people. The European Commission, however, has dismissed the initiative and is therefore refusing the citizens to add their voice to the process of negotiations.
Further demonstrations are currently being organised in Italy. NGOs who are active in the Stop TTIP Italia movement are mobilising for the so far biggest action in Roma on 7 May. They expect tens of thousands of people to participate.
Another starting point of anti-TTIP protest are the TTIP-free municipalities. They have held their first international meeting in Barcelona for the first time in April to exchange experiences and develop common strategies to bring the fight to the next level.
We have updated our brochure by John Hilary to support these protests. It is available for download in English, French, German, Greek, Italian. Printed copies can be ordered at: info.bruessel@rosalux.eu.