NGOs and trade unionists come together to push for better trade secrets law

ClientEarth lawyers, campaigners and trade unionists wrote last week to EU officials negotiating the draft Trade Secrets Directive.

The negotiations, known as ‘trilogues’, are under scrutiny for their lack of transparency, but it is in these discussions that the specifics of the new law will be finalised.

ClientEarth and the other signatories have suggested five points for the negotiators to consider. These highlight the risks the proposed new law poses to the public, including threats to worker mobility, whistleblowers and journalists, and public interest disclosures. The letter also points out that the draft law does not take account of the Aarhus Convention, an international treaty upholding the public’s right to access environmental information.

The negotiations are undemocratic – and they are likely to lead to a law that undermines crucial democratic safeguards by effectively gagging journalists, whistleblowers, worker representatives and public authorities revealing threats to public health and the environment. The amendments suggested would ensure the law protects people and the environment while upholding democracy in the EU.

The trilogue negotiations continue next week.