Far from being a threat to European democracy, the EU-US free trade deal is an ideal opportunity to reform controversial investment rules and procedures

The EU and the United States are currently in the process of negotiating a free trade area, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Robert Basedow writes on criticism over the potential inclusion of ‘investor-state dispute settlement’ procedures in TTIP, which some commentators and academics have argued could undermine democracy on both sides of the Atlantic. He argues that rather than being seen as a threat to democracy, the TTIP negotiations should instead be seen as an opportunity for reform, and that maintaining the status quo could prove to be a greater threat to democracy and the rule of law in the long-term.

• Primary Source

ESO: Key Source: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) http://www.europeansources.info/record/transatlantic-trade-and-investment-partnership-ttip/

ESO: Background information: Investor-state dispute settlement: Council confirms deal with EP http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-investor-state-dispute-settlement-council-confirms-deal-with-ep/

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