Greenpeace Netherlands leaks TiSA negotiation texts, publishes analysis of energy annex during Geneva negotiations

Amsterdam/Geneva, 20 September, 2016 – Greenpeace Netherlands has today published fresh leaks and an in-depth analysis of parts of the closed-door TiSA (Trade in Services Agreement) meetings in Geneva. The analysis throws the door open to wide-ranging discussions which runs in direct opposition to both democracy and agreements set out at the climate negotiations in Paris last year. [1]

The new set of secret TiSA negotiation documents amongst which the annex on energy services causes great concern. Widely unnoticed by the public, TiSA could be finalised by the end of this year. Negotiated in secret, some of the leaked TiSA documents are subject to a five-year ban on publication after signing of the deal. The documents are published on www.tisa-leaks.org.

The publication of the TiSA documents comes as the troubled TTIP negotiations between the Obama administration and the EU come under threat when influential politicians in France and Germany publicly criticise the deal. TTIP and CETA, the highly controversial trade deal between the EU and Canada, will be discussed by the EU trade ministers in Bratislava, Slovakia on September 23.

In Geneva, Greenpeace activists displaying eyeballs and a banner which reads “Don’t trade away our planet” protested at the meeting location at the Mission of The United States of America  where the 20th round of the TiSA negotiations is underway between 50 states.

A press conference will be held at Rue de Varembé 1 (ground floor) 1201 in Geneva on September 20^th at 10.00 CET where journalists can meet representatives of consumer organisations, trade unions and digital rights groups impacted by the secret negotiations. A transparent viewing booth with the leaked documents will be made available to the public outside of the venue. [2] [3]

International TTIP campaign leader at Greenpeace Netherlands, Susan Cohen Jehoram, said:

“This leak shows that TiSA, like other trade deals, includes measures that tie the hands of the very policy makers who are trying to implement the Paris climate agreement”

The analysis by Greenpeace Netherlands found:

• Deregulation: Much-needed regulation by governments to bind corporate sector initiatives will be harder to achieve as a “standstill” is agreed, so no stricter regulation would be allowed.

• A “ratchet” clause means that vital services like energy, drinking water and education cannot be renationalised, once liberalised, and therefore would always be profit oriented.

• Democratic oversight and the ability to regulate by democratically elected governments would be restricted, as corporate actors would have a say in drafting and inhibiting new regulation that would challenge their interests.

• No distinction can be made between cleaner and more harmful fossil fuels, making a phase-out of the most harmful ones like tar sands oils and shale gas impossible.

• Trade deals like TiSA will lead to an increase in fossil fuels trade while its use and trade should be declining to meet the demands of the Paris climate negotiations and the planet.

“Google and Facebook should not determine privacy rights, banks should not regulate banks and having the fossil fuel industry involved in environmental policy is as senseless as the tobacco industry having a say in health policy. Let those decisions be made by the people via the governments they elect,” said Cohen Jehoram.

Greenpeace demands that negotiations on TiSA and TTIP are stopped immediately and that CETA and TPP are voted down. Instead of undermining climate policies, trade agreements have to be designed to enhance climate action. It is unacceptable for trade deals like TiSA, TTIP or CETA to be negotiated in secrecy, at the expense of ordinary citizens and the environment. Rather than throwing away environmental protection for the benefit of big business, all new trade agreements must put both climate change and transparency front and centre.

END

Notes for editors

[1] The media briefing on the energy annex can be found here

[2] The press conference will have a live stream at: www.stop-tisa.net

The speakers are:

Susan Cohen Jehoram, International TTIP campaign leader, Greenpeace Netherlands
Matthias Wüthrich, Trade campaigner, Greenpeace Switzerland
Daniel Bertossa, Director Policy and Governance, Public Services International
Sarah Finke, Policy Coordinator, International Transport Workers’ Federation
Maryant Fernández Pérez, Advocacy Manager, European Digital Rights (via video message)
Isolda Agazzi, World Trade expert, Alliance Sud Switzerland

The following persons will be additionally be available for questions:

Jürgen Knirsch, Trade expert, Greenpeace Germany
Nick Dearden, Global Justice Now

[3] Comments by other NGOs tackling other aspects of TISA can also be found on www.tisa-leaks.org.

Pictures and videos of the protest

http://media.greenpeace.org/collection/27MDHUHOVKZ

Press conference contact

Lilla Lukacs, Communications Manager, Greenpeace Switzerland
Email: lilla.lukacs@greenpeace.org
Phone: +41 79 861 37 92

Contacts

Merel van der Ham, Press Officer, Greenpeace Netherlands
Email: merel.van.der.ham@greenpeace.org
Phone: +31 6 21 29 68 95 (available 24 hours)

Greenpeace International Press Desk,
Email: pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org
Phone: +31 (0)20 718 2470