In June, people living in Oxfordshire will go to the polls to decide if we want to remain in the European Union. 

For Greens, the EU referendum debate must include a thorough discussion about tackling corporate power. 

The ‘leave’ campaign has offered no solutions to how the UK alone would succeed in ensuring multinational corporations do not abuse their position - when it comes to tax dodging, working conditions or environmental safeguards.

With large corporations operating freely across borders, we need EU-wide rules more than ever, to protect the public interest.

The EU is often ahead of the UK government on this – from capping bankers’ bonuses to introducing a ‘Robin Hood Tax’ on speculative financial transactions. 

In response to the tax dodging scandal exposed by the Panama Papers, the European Parliament launched a full investigation into the content of these leaked documents.

Oxford City Council has passed a motion, proposed by the Greens, on the controversial US-EU trade deal (TTIP), pointing out that it ‘could open up local authority procurement processes … to US corporations … in such a way so as to undermine local democracy, threaten staff pay, the council’s commitment to a living wage and employment conditions'.

In the UK and in other EU countries, people are rising up against TTIP which threatens to put corporate profit above public services, environmental protection and workers’ rights.

Opposition to TTIP in the European Parliament has already caused major delays, more transparency, and significant concessions. Now is the time to stand in solidarity with anti-TTIP campaigners across Europe to win this fight.

While bolder measures are required to properly protect the public interest in the face of powerful multinational corporations, we have seen that EU-level action is crucial. Greens hope that voters will take this into account when casting their vote on June 23. 

DR HAZEL DAWE
Chairwoman EU referendum campaign
Oxfordshire Green Party