Op-Ed: The Ukraine and the TTIP
The Ukraine crisis should be seen in the context of a continued expansion of the EU as former Soviet satellite countries join the EU and NATO as well. However the process is also an extension of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment partnership (TTIP)
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As with most so-called free trade deals much of the detail is concerned with issues such as Intellectual property rights that ensure corporations have protection for their monopoly rights for patents and copyright items. Indeed free trade deals are a means to ensure that national legislatures do not interfere with corporate rights and always involve dispute resolution mechanisms that skirt national laws or could even conflict with them. Pia Eberhart of the Corporate Europe Observatory notes: "“The proposed investor rights in the transatlantic trade deal show what it is really about: It’s a power grab from corporations to rein in democracy and handcuff governments that seek to regulate in the public interest. It’s only a matter of time before European citizens start paying the price in higher taxes and diminished social protection.”"
The TTIP is a transnational institution that does not require a government corresponding to the area covered. It does require protection for the capital involved a role played not just by the U.S. and other national forces on occasion but also NATO. However, there are also transnational financial institutions involved in ensuring the proper behavior of the countries involved and making loans depend upon reforms and austerity programs. This is the role of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, although other institutions may be involved such as with the Troika.
Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/politics/op-ed-the-ukraine-and-the-ttip/article/378458#ixzz2xA3XbQa2