The proposed European Citizens' Initiative "Stop TTIP" had invited the European Commission to recommend to the European Council "to repeal the negotiating mandate for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and not to conclude the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Acreement (CETA)".

In its response to this proposal the European Commission argues that the negotiation mandate for TTIP and CETA was not a legal act but merely a preparatory act on behalf of the EU institutions that had tasked the Commission with negotiating the treaties. Hence according to the Commission, the citizens' initiative falls outside the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union.

The alliance "Stop TTIP" objects that the Commission's negotiating mandate was a formal decision by the EU Council and therefore a legal act. By now almost 230 organisations from 21 EU countries have joined the resistance against the international trade agreements, which the EU negotiates with the United States and Canada.

Michael Efler, official contact person of the ECI "Stop TTIP ", announced that the battle against the trade agreements now had to be fought even more. The alliance has started considering how to formally object the Commission's decision by lodging a complaint with the EU Court of Justice. 

Update:

On 19 September 2014, the citizens' alliance "Stop TTIP" announced to appeal the European Court of Justice to complain against the European Commission 's decision not to admit the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI). Meanwhile, the alliance - amongst those Mehr Demokratie e.V. - will go ahead and collect signatures for a 'self-organised' ECI.

Further Information:

- The official response by the European Commission against "STOP TTIP" 
- The website of the alliance "Stop TTIP"
- Press release by "Stop TTIP" announcing to appeal the European Court of Justice (in DE)

Text by Cora Pfafferott