| We have joined nearly 300 groups from across Europe to serve a lawsuit against the European commission at the European court of justice, challenging the commission’s rejection of our right to have a formal petition – a European Citizens’ Initiative – on the controversial EU-US trade deal known as the TTIP, the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership). The TTIP threatens public services, environmental and food protection, workers’ rights and online privacy. The commission refused to sanction even the collection of signatures, arguing that an ECI can only be directed at a legal act being introduced and not work against one that is being negotiated. Our legal challenge disputes this reading of EU legislation. Given that ECIs were conceived as a method of bringing the work of the EU closer to the people of Europe, this decision makes a mockery of their original intent. We call once more for the TTIP to be stopped, for transparency in trade negotiations and for the EU bureaucracy to start listening to its citizens. Nick Dearden Director, World Development Movement Christine Blower General secretary, NUT John Hilary Director, War on Want Mark Serwotka General secretary, PCS Paul Kenny General secretary, GMB Len McCluskey General secretary, Unite Ron Singer People’s NHS Diarmaid McDonald Advocacy manager, Stopaids Blanche Jones Campaigns director, 38 Degrees Saoirse Fitzpatrick Restless Development Hannah Lownsbrough Sum of Us |