Trade and Investment Treaties Endanger High Quality Education

Published: 17 April 2015

ETUCE supports the Global Day of Action to defeat free trade and investment agreements on 18 April 2015. ETUCE, together with other trade unions, civil society organisations, farmers, youth, women, indigenous movements and grassroots activists from across the world, come together with the joint message that the economy must work for people and the planet, rather than for corporations aiming to maximise profits.

ETUCE conveys the message that trade and investment agreements, including the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), endanger high quality education and public services.

Martin Rømer, ETUCE European Director said: "The trade rules proposed in agreements like TTIP, TiSA and CETA are legally binding and can have the effect of locking-in and intensifying pressures of commercialisation and privatisation. Rules around market access can severely restrict the ability of countries that make commitments on education services to limit the entry and regulate the operations of private and for-profit schools and institution."

ETUCE is strongly committed to free quality education for all and maintains that education is a human right and a public good, which is the responsibility of governments. "Education is a human right and access to high quality education must never be based on discrimination of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, religion or the ability to pay. In the EU public services are underpinned by the principles and values of universal access, democratic control, continuity and equality as set out in the Services of General Interest Protocol no. 26. Instead of satisfying demands from corporate lobbies, the EU must include strong and well-defined protections to public services instead of general declarations, " stated Martin Rømer.

For more information:

Read the ETUCE statement on TTIP

Read the ETUCE statement on Investment Protection in EU Investment Agreements