EU’s Culture of Secrecy Comes to Dublin: No Access to Information for TDs on Vital Trade Talks

international | eu | feature Thursday February 19, 2004 21:44 by dapse(r) - DAPSE (Democracy and Public Services in Europe) dapse at eircom dot net

'The Name of This Secretive Body is the Article 133 Committee.'

From the Newswire: 'This Friday a little-known body of the European Union will make a low-profile visit to Dublin Castle. There will be no media spotlight, no fanfare, and the anonymous civil servants who work in it will come and go unnoticed. Their work however, could have profound implications for the lives of millions of people – both within the EU and beyond. The name of this secretive body is the Article 133 Committee.

The Article 133 Committee is the body of the EU where member states discuss trade deals. The 133 Committee is currently formulating the EU’s policy for the controversial GATS negotiations at the WTO. These negotiations aim to bring about the “liberalisation” of trade in all services, including health and education services.

Ireland and other EU states are deciding what services they want to see “liberalised” and open to commercial competition - both within Europe and in the developing world. But neither the Irish Government nor the EU will tell us what they are planning to do – information on trade deals is not published until after the deals are concluded.

This is why a cross-party group of twenty one TDs have called on the Government for full transparency in the operation of the Article 133 Committee. In a letter delivered to Minister Mary Harney on Wednesday 19th February, the TDs stated:

“We, as concerned citizens and elected public representatives are disturbed that matters of public interest – including the EU and Irish government’s proposals on the opening of international trade in public services like health and education, and on trade in goods and services with developing countries – are being discussed in secret at the EU Article 133 Committee meeting in Dublin on Feb 20”

They went on to make the following request:

“In the spirit of openness, transparency and accountability, we request the right to observe at this Article 133 Committee meeting; and to have access to documents being presented by the Irish government to the meeting.”

So far, there has been no information forthcoming in response to this request.'

Further Information and Background
Details of 'Another Europe' Dublin Castle Protest - 20th Feb - 1pm
'Of particular concern is that the deliberations of the Article 133 Committee are not made public.'
Why Does Article 133 Matter?
Health and Education as a Business Opportunity: DAPSE Information
The EU Constitution, Gats and Education
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the GATS
Background From Article 133 Info Group

DAPSE PRESS RELEASE AS SUBMITTED TO IMC IRL

This Press Release has been written by the citizens group DAPSE (Democracy and Public Services in Europe) which is lobbying for greater scrutiny of the formulation of EU policy on trade in services, particularly in the context of the draft EU Constitution.

This Friday a little-known body of the European Union will make a low-profile visit to Dublin Castle. There will be no media spotlight, no fanfare, and the anonymous civil servants who work in it will come and go unnoticed. Their work however, could have profound implications for the lives of millions of people – both within the EU and beyond. The name of this secretive body is the Article 133 Committee.

The Article 133 Committee is the body of the EU where member states discuss trade deals. The 133 Committee is currently formulating the EU’s policy for the controversial GATS negotiations at the WTO. These negotiations aim to bring about the “liberalisation” of trade in all services, including health and education services.

Ireland and other EU states are deciding what services they want to see “liberalised” and open to commercial competition - both within Europe and in the developing world. But neither the Irish Government nor the EU will tell us what they are planning to do – information on trade deals is not published until after the deals are concluded.

This is why a cross-party group of twenty one TDs have called on the Government for full transparency in the operation of the Article 133 Committee. In a letter delivered to Minister Mary Harney on Wednesday 19th February, the TDs stated:

“We, as concerned citizens and elected public representatives are disturbed that matters of public interest – including the EU and Irish government’s proposals on the opening of international trade in public services like health and education, and on trade in goods and services with developing countries – are being discussed in secret at the EU Article 133 Committee meeting in Dublin on Feb 20”

They went on to make the following request:

“ In the spirit of openness, transparency and accountability, we request the right to observe at this Article 133 Committee meeting; and to have access to documents being presented by the Irish government to the meeting.”

So far, there has been no information forthcoming in response to this request.


The TDs who have signed this request are:

Michael D Higgins, Emmet Stagg, Mary Upton, Jan O’Sullivan, Eamon Gilmore,

Trevor Sargent, John Gormley, Eamon Ryan, Dan Boyle, Ciaran Cuffe, Paul Gogarty,

Caoimhghín O’Caolain, Seán Crowe, Arthur Morgan, Martin Ferris, Aengus O’Snodaig,

Finian McGrath, Tony Gregory, Séamus Healy, Joe Higgins, Marian Harkin.

The request has also been signed by the following:
Patricia McKenna MEP, Nuala Ahern MEP;
Ivana Bacik;
Sinn Féin Euro candidates Mary Lou McDonald, Bairbre DeBruin MLA, David Cullinane, John Dwyer, Pearse Doherty.

For information and comment from DAPSE, contact:
Brendan Young. 085 713 1903 Conor O’Briain. 087 9189729 Miriam Murphy. 087 754 5568