A template email against TTIP, for sending to MEPs

Dear

Re: The ISDS resolution in the European Parliament

I/We am/are deeply concerned about the impacts on democracy, on workers’ and consumers’ rights, on the environment and our food sovereignty of both transatlantic treaties: the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – TTIP (EU-US) and the CETA (EU-Canada).

I/we particularly want to express my/our disapproval about the inclusion of the investor-to-state dispute settlement mechanism (ISDS), which would, if implemented, allow transnational companies to claim millions of euros in compensation before super-national arbitration panels if governments take measures that protect citizens’ rights and reduce transnationals’ expected profits.
ISDS cannot be made acceptable.

CETA, with ISDS, may be signed later this year (2015), so insisting that ISDS needs to be abolished, not reformed, is an urgent matter. The onus is on member state governments, via the EU Council, and the European Parliament to ensure this.

The European Commission’s public consultation on ISDS received a record number of responses (150 000), with more than 97% of them clearly saying no to ISDS – not ‘reform ISDS’ but ‘no to ISDS’. Subsequently, more than 1.3 million European citizens have raised their voices to stop TTIP and CETA and the ISDS component is a main reason.

The EU public has spoken and now action is needed from our representatives.

Can you assure me that you will vote against the inclusion of ISDS in these trade deals?

Yours sincerely