TTIP

What has become visible of the framework of TTIP so far shows that our political and economic leaders have done a tremendous effort to boost economic growth. A feat that allows politicians to sound the trumpet of common good and secure their next election and that allows corporations to increase their business flexibility and profits.

The oversight of our politicians, which I do blame them for, is that this framework is placed above the common law and even worse outside the democratic process once adopted (and even the democratic acceptance is attempted to be avoided). The argument being that nothing is more important than the economy. This maybe true for these politicians but is has not been in history and will not be in future. When our security and existence is threatened economy is for sure less important.

Some of our leaders may argue that democracy has its faults and some issues need discussion outside the public domain to come to a good and final conclusion. I agree with the shortcomings of democracy and do belief that initial ideas need to be thought through first before a public debate starts. We have not given our politicians however a carte blanche to think on our behalf once they have been elected. We need to see their arguments and be convinced so that we can decide who to vote for in the next election. The secrecy around TTIP and worse the fast track process that has been adpoted by the USA hides the role of individual politicians and leaves a farce of a decision process 'take it or leave it, the whole package, without understanding the reasoning and intricacies'. We will find ourselves stuck with a framework that threatens our ability to act.

For me to become viable anything related to economic frameworks should have these minimum characteristics:

• • Anything related to our safety and security will overrule the TTIP agreement. When countries and the world decide to finally take action for countering climate change the TTIP should not be a roadblock to action. This should be non-negotiable; sponsoring a few scientists to cast doubt on common sense scientific work should not stall needed action.

  • Anything that has been put into a TTIP agreement, once drafted, should follow an open public debate. Arguments have to be presented and intricacies explained. Enough time should be allowed for this debate. TTIP has a global scale impact, influencing the cultures of many countries. Only after a full assessment of those influences can we take responsibility for our grandchildren and ourselves and be able to justify our decision to support economic growth as is the aim of TTIP.

What has come in the open about TTIP does not give me a good feeling that these securities will be in place. So long I am opposed.