Transparency in European Trade Policymaking: The TTIP Negotiations as a Case Study

Katia Fach Gómez (ed.) La Política de la Unión Europea en Materia de Derecho de las Inversions Internacionales. EU Policy on International Investment Law, Bosch Editor, 2017, pp. 351-374.

Posted: 15 Jun 2017 Last revised: 18 Jun 2017

See all articles by Fernando Dias Simões

Fernando Dias Simões

Lusíada University of Porto; Portucalense University

Date Written: June 1, 2017

Abstract

The negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) have been surrounded by considerable controversy. One of the most widespread criticisms regards the alleged lack of transparency of the negotiation process. Transparency in trade and investment negotiations refers to the access of the general public to negotiating documents, position papers, and consolidated draft texts. Civil society groups seek to have access to these documents in order to analyse the potential impact of international agreements on citizens’ lives. However, the privacy of trade and investment negotiations is a time-honoured tradition. The level of transparency adopted by the European Commission in the TTIP negotiations, while open to improvement, is already quite satisfactory. The volume of information made available by the European Commission on the TTIP finds no parallel in analogous negotiations currently underway. While the present practice can be improved and fine-tuned, it strikes a sensible balance between the principles of transparency and democratic scrutiny and the need to ensure orderly, fruitful international negotiations.

Keywords: European Union, transparency, trade agreements, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Suggested Citation

Dias Simões, Fernando, Transparency in European Trade Policymaking: The TTIP Negotiations as a Case Study (June 1, 2017). Katia Fach Gómez (ed.) La Política de la Unión Europea en Materia de Derecho de las Inversions Internacionales. EU Policy on International Investment Law, Bosch Editor, 2017, pp. 351-374., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2985849

Fernando Dias Simões (Contact Author)

Lusíada University of Porto ( email )

Porto
Portugal

Portucalense University ( email )

Porto
Portugal

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