Ecologist and citizen associations convocated actions against TTIP

USPA NEWS - Spanish ecologist organizations and citizen associations convocated an International Day against the TTIP next April 18. These groups criticize the secrecy of the negotiations and denounce the treaty only benefit large corporations.

They also fear the effects of TTIP may have on employment in the European Union and the threat to the conquered social rights in Europe. US and EU "want to sell this treaty as the balm against the crisis," explains to USPA News Tom Kucharz, journalist and social researcher of German origin and contributor to the Spanish organization Ecologists in Action. "The European Commission is lying when she says that the treaty will not affect employment," adds and says that "not only treat about trade. Even speaks very little trade. It is a treaty aimed at large corporations. The intention is hampering the new governments emerging in Europe to implement alternative policies."

Ecologists and citizens' associations criticize the secret negotiations and fear its consequences for employment. "The main objective of the negotiations is called non-tariff barrier," but tariffs represent "much of our social rights," says Tom Kucharz. In his opinion, it is proposed to eliminate between 25 and 50 percent of existing standards. The treaty, he says, serves to "harmonize the legislations to the fall". As consequence of it, ecologists and citizens they denounce that, only in Spain, approximately 680.000 working places will get lost. In addition, says Tom Kucharz, "they hide the costs for the governments", and it because "almost there does not stay any aspect of our lives out of the negotiations."