The motion concerning the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership project between the EU and the United States (TTIP) has been thrown out by the town council of Namur following a disagreement between the socialist party and the other parties. The text, “unanimously approved until a few hours ago”, was written up by the 4 parties after a meeting last March. The socialist party (PS) found that “some requests were too timid” and says they suggested amendments which were rejected. The socialist councillor, Gwenaëlle Grovonius, says she submitted the motion in November 2014 for council discussion.
For Alderman Maxime Prevot, the change in Grovonius’s point of view is due to “left-wing movements and lobbies’ emails.” “I can understand that on the eve of this May Day’s celebrations, the PS is taking a step back and asking for a more radical text, but they should stand firm,” he insisted.
For Laurence Lambert (Ecolo), the text, called “a common denominator” by the cdH, was an opportunity to express the people’s fears, in spite of the fact that it did not adhere to any one party’s position. “Your proposed amendments, Mrs. Grovonius, were complicated and full of hot air. You either go all the way or not at all,” she said.
Approximately 30 protesters from Tout Autre Chose gathered in Namur on Thursday evening, calling for the town to remove this motion which was “too timid” and to adopt another one declaring Namur a “TTIP-free” zone.
Approximately 86 towns have already voted on the TTIP.
(Source: Belga)
