The mandate for CETA, the Free Trade Agreement with Canada, has been leaked by consumer organisation, Foodwatch. The leaked documents show that the highly controversial investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system was not included in the original text of the mandate, and was pushed by the European Union.

GUE/NGL MEP Anne-Marie Mineur stated: “The voice of European citizens is not being heard, once again. The public consultation on ISDS resulted in about 150,000 responses, of which almost all (97 per cent) were negative. The public clearly rejects ISDS.”

“Commissioner Malmström has proposed a slightly different system of dispute settlement for the TTIP agreement by introducing an investment court, but refuses to promote the same modification of ISDS in CETA.

“In any case, an investment court would be little more than lipstick on a pig. Almost 3 million Europeans have signed the European Citizens Initiative against these free trade agreements, and we will continue to oppose them.

“Ms Malmström has stated that the negotiations are closed and will not be re-opened again. She is trying to fool the European citizens and please the corporations.”

From October 10 to 17, there will be international days of action against free trade agreements.

GUE/NGL Press Contact:
Nikki Sullings  +32 22 83 27 60 / +32 483 03 55 75
Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20