EU

For the first time since the European Union (EU) and China forged the EU-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2003, Brussels has adopted a shift in its approach towards what is currently the world’s second-biggest economy.

Global Justice Now took a ‘remain and reform’ position in the EU referendum – to stay in the EU in order to transform it. We feared that leaving would lead to an outpouring of xenophobia and racism, and would potentially unleash a wave of deregulation and liberalisation, especially through trade deals. We were right to be worried.

We pay our taxes. So why don’t corporations? Billions of euros are lost each year due to corporate tax avoidance, depriving public budgets of much-needed resources to fund education, health care, social services, and much more.

After the mid-February approval of CETA by the European parliament, the focus turned to Canada and the member states of the European Union who all need to ratify the deal.

It’s been a couple of days since the shocking referendum result, and it feels no better than it did on the night.

The latest polls show that the referendum battle is very close and leaving the EU could be a real possibility. While we’re critical of the way the EU currently works, we think it’s very important we stay in.

Trade deals are looming large in the referendum debate here in the UK. The public at home and across Europe are increasingly asking questions about whom they are made for and why such secrecy surrounds them. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks began entirely hidden from public scrutiny with the backing of European prime ministers.