Twitter action called for in blocking a dodgy internation trade deal

Guest blog post from Phil Fletcher of Barnet Green Party

URGENT!

 

Hi Folks,

 

Received this rather worrying email. The European parliament have voted not to have a debate on CETA [Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement — Canada and the EU] and are voting on Wednesday.If you’ve got the time, please take part in this twitter action. If you haven't the time, could you please forward this on to someone who has?

 

Cheers

 

Phil Fletcher

(Barnet Green Party)

 

Please help stop CETA [Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement] by tweeting your MEPs and asking them to vote  FOR the Greens' proposal that the question of the legality of ICS in CETA to be referred to the European Court of Justice. 

Thank you

Laura

MEPs voted on Monday 21.11.2016 afternoon on whether there should be a debate on the issue of the European Parliament asking for a European Court of Justice decision on the legality of ICS (ISDS [Investor-State Dispute Settlement] in CETA)

before the European Parliament actually votes on this,  in Strasbourg , on Wed.

The proposal for a debate was rejected by 184 votes to  170 votes.

Consequently, there will NO debate before the vote on Wednesday.

(How bad can the institution of the EU get...?)

So it would be useful to contact your MEPs quickly and ask them to vote  FOR the Greens' proposal that the question of the legality of ICS in CETA to be referred to the European Court of Justice. 

Let's see what we can achieve.

Below is some stuff to help,  including tweets 

and  a list of key MEPs to contact

Linda 

Tweet particularly these UK MEPs. See below for suggested tweets

@sajjadkarimMEP 

@syedkamall

@jfostermep 

@C_Stihler_MEP

@davidmartinMEP 

@derekvaughan

@gleniswillmott 

@LindaMcAvanMEP

@maryhoneyball

@richardhowitt

@JimNicholsonMEP

@juliegirling

@DavidHannanMEP

@EmmaMcClarkin

Free trade vs local democracy

From World Development Movement

Short briefing on CETA

By Nick Dearden, 9 September 2014

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a “next generation” free trade and investment pact that Canada and the EU have been negotiating since May 2009. It has taken nearly a year since the 18 October 2013 ‘agreement in principle’ was reached to iron out the 'final difficulties' and we now expect an announcement on its completion at the EU-Canada Summit on 25 September.

Member states have until 12 September to make amendments to the text – after which point it is essentially set in stone. However, this will only be the beginning of the ratification process, which could take up to 2 years to complete.

Based on the leaked text we have seen, we oppose CETA. CETA could unfairly restrict how local governments spend money by banning ‘buy local’ policies, and create pressure to lock-in privatisation of services.

We also have immediate concerns about how CETA will be ratified – and fear CETA could pass into force without being examined by MPs....

Continue reading at War On Want website

Short briefing on CETA

By Nick Dearden, 9 September 2014

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a “next generation” free trade and investment pact that Canada and the EU have been negotiating since May 2009. It has taken nearly a year since the 18 October 2013 ‘agreement in principle’ was reached to iron out the 'final difficulties' and we now expect an announcement on its completion at the EU-Canada Summit on 25 September.

Member states have until 12 September to make amendments to the text – after which point it is essentially set in stone. However, this will only be the beginning of the ratification process, which could take up to 2 years to complete.

Based on the leaked text we have seen, we oppose CETA. CETA could unfairly restrict how local governments spend money by banning ‘buy local’ policies, and create pressure to lock-in privatisation of services.

We also have immediate concerns about how CETA will be ratified – and fear CETA could pass into force without being examined by MPs. 

- See more at: http://www.wdm.org.uk/trade/short-briefing-ceta#sthash.oMYi9WiO.dpuf