Resisting CETA - Next steps forward in the European Parliament

(21 December) In the light of the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) Opinion recommending that the European Parliament rejects the ratification of CETA, the parliamentary timetable for the EU-Canada trade deal will rightfully come under a great deal of pressure  in the coming weeks as resistance to CETA continues in 2017.

On the 12th of January the EPs Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI) will discuss CETA. The ENVI Committee has been critical of CETA in terms of its perceived threat to the precautionary principle and  its possible damage to public health care services. It will be interesting if this critique of CETA translates into a further vote to reject CETA. 

Meanwhile on the 24th of January the EP’  International Trade Committee INTA will  discuss CETA and make the overall recommendation to the EP plenary regarding whether to support or reject the agreement.

According to EPSU’s Deputy General Secretary Penny Clarke, ‘although it is  a challenge to influence the outcome of CETA, it is well worth continuing to raise our concerns and explain  why this trade agreement  remains a bad deal for workers and a threat to public services. While the Investor Court System is both anti-democratic and weakens  the rule of law and the general interest. The way CETA has been negotiated opens up more public services to one-way  liberalisation.’

Many EPSU  affiliates and members are actively contacting their MEPs to point out the many flaws in CETA,  as illustrated in the  joint letter of November 29th which was signed by ourselves, other trade unions and civil society organisations.

To access  EPSU’s letter to European Parliament’s ENVI Committee

EPSU materials to support actions and awareness on CETA are available on the EPSU website

If you need more detailed information on CETA’s implications for health and social services