REPORTS AND ANALYSIS

In late 2016, a decision will be made by the Council of the European Union whether to launch the ratification process of the free trade agreement between the EU and Canada (CETA). The European Commission (EC) is promoting the agreement with the prospects of more trade, stronger economic relations and job creation. However, studies on the economic impact of CETA report only marginal effects on GDP of 0.03% to 0.08% for the whole of the EU.

EU trade deals with Canada and the US could endanger citizens’ rights to basic services like water and health, as negotiators are doing the work of some of the EU’s most powerful corporate lobby groups in pushing an aggressive market opening agenda in the public sector.

This short analysis published by Aitec presents the impacts that TTIP and CETA may have on public procurement policies for local authorities on both sides of the Atlantic. It shows how these treaties are going against the common goods and the environmental protection. It also put the light on the way TTIP and CETA will weaken the local authorities' capacity to adopt progressive and sustainable policies in their territories.