TTIP: consequences
on Greek Democracy, Economy, Society
Basic research conclusions:
• Greek society is already suffering some of TTIP’s effects mainly because of the memorandum
commitments applied in the country.
• TTIP promotes privatization of the common goods.
• Dramatic political impact (democratic legitimacy substituted by a technocratic one) as well
as effects in the macroeconomic sector (Centralization of the means of production, abolition
of the self-employed and small business, furthermore rapid deterioration in labor
remuneration and labor rights).
• Regarding Greece, although European Commission has officially registered 101 PDO
(Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) products, only
21 of them are under negotiation as appears at EU’s proposal on geographical indications at
TTIP. US side is strongly opposing to the existence of PDO and PGI. Indicative of this is that
55 US senators have recently sent a letter to US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack asking
him to stop EU’s “restrictions” of dairy products with commonly used names such as “feta”.
• TTIP agreement worsens social and environmental setting of vulnerable social groups and
local communities. As environmental protection (consequently protection of quality of life) is
considered to be a barrier of TTIP’s crucial point which is free trade’s dominance, it is obvious
that all policies to “overcome this obstacle” will be put into action. Take for example the case
of Eldorado Gold at Chalkidiki peninsula.
• Under these unfavourable conditions part of the society decided to take action. The proposed
way to a post-capitalist society comes through autonomous movements, direct democracy
and cooperatives. New policies and practices are being developed that cannot be attributed
to a certain movement, but all together form an alternative to the dominant system.
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Naturefriends Greece was founded in 2007 and is a member of the international environmental
organization Naturefriends International (NFI). With 500'000 members in approximately 45 member
organizations throughout the globe, the Naturefriends movement -founded in 1895- is one of the largest
NGOs worldwide. Among others, Naturefriends Greece is leading people4soil campaign in Greece,
starting officially in autumn and aiming to force EU to protect soil and legally classify it as a common
good. Furthermore Naturefriends Greece participates in the International Network for Fair Trade Our
World Is Not For Sale. NFGr is one of the key players in Greek Initiative STOP TTIP CETA TiSA.
www.nfi.at | www.people4soil.eu | www.ourworldisnotforsale.org