Today the Socialist and Democrats (S&D) Group in the European Parliament adopted with near unanimity a very strong position paper on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), opposing the inclusion of the controversial mechanism in trade deals with both the US (TTIP) and Canada (CETA).
The proposal adopted today was drafted by a working group chaired by David Martin MEP, S&D Group coordinator on trade issues. Significant amendments proposed by Jude Kirton-Darling MEP, Labour's European spokesperson on TTIP and CETA, and Richard Corbett MEP, Labour's Deputy Leader in the European Parliament, were supported by the S&D parliamentary group by 78 votes to five.
David Martin MEP said:
"We have always been opposed to ISDS as a group, although we didn't have a chance to adopt a formal decision on this matter since the last European elections in 2014.
"In doing so today, we are responding to the thousands of constituents and the many civil society organisations that have asked us to clarify our position."
Jude Kirton-Darling MEP said:
"This decision by the European Socialists and Democrats Group will prove to be a real game changer not only in the negotiations between the EU and the US but also with respect to the ratification of the Canada agreement.
"The European Commission and Europe's Conservatives will need our support in the end if they want to see TTIP through. Today, we are sending them a loud and clear message we can only contemplate support if our conditions are met. One such condition is we do not accept the need to have private tribunals in TTIP."
Richard Corbett MEP said:
"Today the Labour Party has demonstrated that engaging with our neighbours across the EU yields tangible results in the interest of the general public.
"Labour were instrumental in securing this outcome, and this is a tribute to the hard work, commitment and resolve of Labour MEPs."
For further information, please contact Shamik Das on 0044 7920 441362 or 0032 479 790053.
www.eurolabour.org.uk • @EuroLabour
Contenu pertinent
En savoir plus
