The Lobbyists' Charter

11 October 2013
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A list of the granted powers to industry lobyists, practically restricting democratic decision-making now and in the future through the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

 

 

 

Read the full version of the charter on http://www.lobbycharter.eu/ (also in German, French or Italian)


The government of the United States of America and the European Commission
As part of the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)

Hereby solemnly pledge to grant industry lobbyists the following powers to restrict democratic decision-making now and in the future:

  • Businesses may legally challenge any decision either taken or planned by our democratically-elected governments.
  • Such legal challenges shall be heard according to rules set by business and not by the government.
  • Businesses shall have the right to claim high damages and even the reversal of decisions taken by our democratically-elected governments. 
  • Tribunals may use arbitrators (i.e. the "judges" in the tribunals) who also work for the businesses that are parties to any case that they are hearing. 
  • Businesses shall have the right to claim high legal expenses from taxpayers when their cases are successful.
  • Businesses may sue - or increase their lobbying pressure by threatening to sue - our democratically-elected governments if legislation is adopted or planned which undermines, or is perceived as potentially undermining, business expectations regarding the value of their data, shares, profits, profit margin, trademark, patent, copyright or other perceived assets.
  • Businesses may sue our democratically-elected governments for lost profits arising from legitimate punishments imposed by national courts on the basis of democratically approved rules. No such right is, or will be, accorded to our citizens.
  • Businesses may sell their legal cases to venture capital funds, despite the fact that this will increase the number of speculative and groundless cases against our governments.
  • Tribunals may overturn our supreme courts' decisions.
  • The governments hereby also solemnly pledge to create precedents for this Lobbyists Charter in other treaties. ∇ For more information on the scale and growth of the problems described above, see "Number of international disputes mushroomed in 2012" from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 10 April, 2013

This document was prepared by European Digital Rights, with expert input from the Transnational Institute

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