It was a festive occasion, marking the 50th anniversary of the Marshall Plan. One of the main priorities outlined in the TABD paper is the harmonization of standards, certification and regulatory policy on both sides of the Atlantic. This can be reached through so-called Mutual Recognition Agreements. These are bilateral agreements in which testing, inspection and certification for conformity to standards are mutually recognized by both parties. MRAs will have huge implications, as they imply a de facto harmonization of standards across the Atlantic.
Most national parliamentarians are also largely unaware of what is going on.
The MRA process is a clear example of how a regime of corporate rule is being imposed in a totally undemocratic manner. The US and the EU have been negotiating a MRA for years, but since the coming into being of the TABD the process has shifted into higher gear. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide an analysis of the implications of this agreement due to lack of information. The meetings will take place at Hotel Excelsior, which is located in the lively Via Veneto and within walking distance from the Spanish Steps, Via Condotti and Villa Borghese. The TABD meeting in Rome provides a rare opportunity to inform a larger public about the TABD and how it functions as an agent of global corporate rule.