S2B Statement ahead of WTO Ministerial Conference 10
No more business as usual: global trade rules need to work for people and planet S2B believes that global trade needs to be made to work for the benefit of people and planet and that trade rules should be…
New EC trade strategy reinforces corporate bias
The Seattle to Brussels (S2B) network believes the new European Commission (EC) trade strategy “Trade for All” is a continuation of the EC's existing trade strategy: it remains obsessed by serving EU corporate interests. Trade for All, launched yesterday (Wednesday),…
Pro-TTIP resolution passes European Parliament
Campaigners have expressed dismay today that the European Parliament ignored the voice of millions of European citizens to express a positive opinion on TTIP (the US-EU trade deal). After angry scenes in Strasburg in which MEPs accused Parliamentary president Martin…
Unacceptable compromise amendment on ISDS in TTIP – still allows investors to sue States at private tribunals.
Today in the European parliament, Social Democrats (S&D) and conservatives (EPP) agreed to let investors sue States in private tribunals. The two main groups reached a compromised on the controversial Investor to State dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism, endorsing the reform…
S2B welcomes infringement proceedings against intra-EU BITS
The Seattle to Brussels network welcomes the European Commission's decision to initiate infringement proceedings against five Member States, requesting them to terminate their intra-EU bilateral investment treaties. The Commission requested Austria, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden to bring the…
Key TTIP vote postponed by the European Parliament at the last minute
The European Parliament has failed to pass a resolution in support of ongoing Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations. MEPs had been due to vote on 10 June, but the vote was called off. The lack of any vote…
ISDS: Spreading the disease instead of looking for a cure
Why the Commission’s alleged ISDS ‘reforms’ fail to address the key problems Analysis by the Seattle to Brussels Network 6 May 2015 On 5 May 2015, the European Trade Commissioner Malmström presented a number of proposals to “further improve” investment…
EU-Myanmar Investment Treaty will block democratic transition
S2B Statement on EU-Myanmar Investment Treaty: An investment treaty will block democratic transition Today the first round of negotiations will start between the EU and Myanmar over an investment treaty. The members of S2B are of the opinion that an…
Commission consultation on investor rights in TTIP makes a mockery of democracy
Campaigners from the Seattle to Brussels Network (S2B) have criticised the European Commission’s consultation on investor rights in the proposed EU-US trade deal (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP) as a mockery of democracy aimed at selling its pro-industry agenda,…
People and the planet before profit
Call for European decentralised multi-sectoral day of action against TTIP, CETA and corporate free trade agenda on 11 October 2014. * Groups are welcome to amend this call, change it and translate it according to their needs ** Groups are…
Ecuador forced to accept a free trade agreement without negotiations
Between 9 and 13 of June, the third round of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the European Union and Ecuador has being held in Brussels. In fact there is little to negotiate because the EU does not leave…