Thoughts on today's rather important European Parliament vote

Today, a majority of present MEPs voted in favour of a (draft) legislative proposal that basically approves the feared ISDS (investor state dispute settlement) part of the EU-US free trade agreement-referred to as a vote on 'financial responsibility linked to investor-state dispute settlement tribunals established by international agreements to which the EU is party'.

The breakdown of the votes in favour of the legislative resolution in question reads as follows:

FOR: European People's Party (230 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions), European Conservatives and Reformists (50 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions), Europe for Freedom and Democracy (the two main things which the EU-US free trade agreement tramples on; 18 for, 1 against, 7 abstentions), Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe (72 for, 2 against, 1 abstention), Socialists and Democrats (154 for, 11 against, 0 abstentions), 9 non-inscrits (2 Greater Romania Party MEPs, 1 DUP MEP, Nessa Childers (independent), 1 unattached Lega Nord MEP, 2 independent Italian MEPs, 1 independent Romanian MEP, 1 UPyd MEP)

AGAINST: European United Left-Nordic Green Left (31 against, only 1 abstention), Greens-European Free Alliance (56 against, sole New Flemish Alliance MEP for, 0 abstentions),  18 non-inscrits (1 We Demand a Referendum MEP, 1 unattached UKIP MEP, 1 BDP MEP, 1 BNP MEP, 2 Front National MEPs, 2 Jobbik MEPs, 1 Vlaams Belang MEP, 4 PVV MEPs, 1 REKOS MEP, 1 Martin's list MEP, 1 FPO MEP, 1 independent Dutch MEP).

It is clear that it is not only UKIP among the so called Europe for Freedom and Democracy group that does not really care about national sovereignity when it comes to economic issues- other EFD members in favour of this resolution included Lega Nord's MEPs, United Poland's MEPs, and one MEP each from the True Finns, the SGP (a Christian fundamentalist Dutch party), and the 'Independent Greeks' (ANEL)-although most of UKIP's MEPs actually abstained on this vote, probably to avoid getting bad press. This vote is also useful proof of a neoliberal triad, being led by Jean-Claude Juncker, Martin Schulz and Guy Verhofstadt at the moment, and that the European Conservatives and Reformists are in reality no different to this triad, other than by being somewhat more authoritarian and uncaring.

I do need to make a point to the European Green Party and European Free Alliance about the 'New Flemish Alliance' though,as its MEP, Mark Demesmaeker, voted in favour of the resolution. Despite having the highest number of members of the Belgian legislature at the moment, the New Flemish Alliance has not helped improve Belgium's post-recession situation, and it is clear that this party is still not swaying away from the neoliberal capitalist system any more than most Belgian MPs are (apart from Ecolo/Groen MPs in the Belgian Parliament) It is described as 'economically liberal but ecologically green', however in practice we know that being economically liberal means that a party cannot in the long run be ecologically green because economic restraints are needed to achieve green goals. In my opinion, either the New Flemish Alliance needs to shift to the left whilst still being regionalist/nationalist (as Plaid Cymru has wisely done, the SNP has also done this to a minor extent), or it needs to leave the European Free Alliance group. The upcoming Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (another term for the EU-US free trade agreement) undermines sovereignity almost completely, and all European Free Alliance members, given their mandate, are supposed to stand up for this and thus against agreements like the TTIP.

 Despite this vote, it is not over yet. The European Parliament elections are now only 5 weeks away at this time of writing, so I encourage those of you who read this blog to help push for a greater green voice in the next European Parliament.

 Alan.

 

  

 
Financial responsibility linked to investor-state dispute settlement tribunals established by international agreements to which the EU is party - See more at: http://www.votewatch.eu/en/financial-responsibility-linked-to-investor-state-dispute-settlement-tribunals-established-by-intern-4.html#/sthash.5QVyC2qY.uxfs##vote-tabs-list-2
Financial responsibility linked to investor-state dispute settlement tribunals established by international agreements to which the EU is party - See more at: http://www.votewatch.eu/en/financial-responsibility-linked-to-investor-state-dispute-settlement-tribunals-established-by-intern-4.html#/sthash.5QVyC2qY.uxfs##vote-tabs-list-2
Financial responsibility linked to investor-state dispute settlement tribunals established by international agreements to which the EU is party - See more at: http://www.votewatch.eu/en/financial-responsibility-linked-to-investor-state-dispute-settlement-tribunals-established-by-intern-4.html#/sthash.5QVyC2qY.uxfs##vote-tabs-list-2

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