The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has called for a total review by the government and EU of  the proposed new Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement.

The call comes following rejection in Germany this week by Deutscher Richterbund (DRB), the largest association of magistrates in Germany, of a proposal to establish an international investment court as part of the TTIP process.

In their statement the DRB say there is neither “a legal basis nor the necessity” for such a court.

Specifically the DRB says that “The assumption that the courts in the EU member states are not sufficient to provide adequate legal protection for foreign investors is fully unfounded,” adding that “Special courts for only certain groups are the wrong way”.

The DRB also questions the competence of the EU to establish such a court, saying it would severely interfere with the Member states’ judicial and legislative systems and of the Union itself.

They raise further questions on the lack of independence of judges in such a court, on the basis that the European Commission’s proposal neither ensures financial independence nor provides clarity about the selection procedure.

Commenting on the announcement Mike Jennings, General Secretary of IFUT, said that  “the continued efforts to bring about a new TTIP of the type proposed poses a distinct and definable threat to the public funding of education and the sovereignty of EU states to determine on educational policy.

“The opposition of education groups and others is clearly finding support in other sectors and IFUT welcomes this intervention and legal analysis by the the German DRB.”

ENDS

• English version of full Deutscher Richterbund (DRB) statement attached

For further information on this media release, please contact:

John Gallagher, John Gallagher Consulting. Tel. 087 9369888

Mike Jennings, General Secretary, IFUT. Tel. 087 6776747.