WikiLeaks takes on TTIP deal with €100,000 reward for 'Europe's most wanted secret'

WikiLeaks has taken aim at the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) by launching a €100,000 (£71,000, $111,000) crowdfunding campaign for the secretive deal to be leaked. The whistle-blowing organisation describes TTIP as "Europe's most wanted secret" and intends to use the money raised as a reward for whoever leaks it.

Several high-profile activists have already got behind the campaign, including Greek former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, UK fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, and renowned journalists Glenn Greenwald and John Pilger.

"The secrecy of the TTIP casts a shadow on the future of European democracy," WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange said in a statement. "Under this cover, special interests are running wild, much as we saw with the recent financial siege against the people of Greece.

"The TTIP affects the life of every European and draws Europe into long-term conflict with Asia. This time for its secrecy to end is now."

WikiLeaks considers the TTIP as one of the "Three Big T's", alongside the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) and the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA). Large parts of the two other agreements have already been published by WikiLeaks following similar crowdfunding campaigns.

The treaties face opposition from BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) for being pushed through outside of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at the expense of the emerging economies.

TTIP has also faced opposition from countries in Europe for allowing transnational corporations to bypass domestic courts, evade environmental protections, police the internet on behalf of the content industry, limit the availability of affordable generic medicines, and curtail individual country's legislative sovereignty.

Negotiations surrounding TTIP are currently ongoing but remain closely guarded. At the time of writing, WikiLeaks crowdfunding campaign had raised more than €10,000.

In June, WikiLeaks announced its intention to raise $100,000 in order to expose the TPP.