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-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Answering guides for EU ISDS consultation Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 16:19:06 +0200 From: Ante Wessels ante@FFII.ORG
Answering guides for EU ISDS consultation
https://www.vrijschrift.org/serendipity/index.php?/archives/158-Answering-gu... or http://bit.ly/1nBEdqX
The European Digital Rights initiative (EDRi) has published an answering guide for the European Commission's consultation on investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS), probably the most controversial element of proposed EU trade agreements. The consultation ends the 6th of July.
ISDS gives foreign investors, usually multinationals, the right to circumvent domestic courts and challenge decisions of states for international investment tribunals if decisions may lead to lower profits than expected. The cases are decided by for-profit arbitrators, they would be able to overturn decisions of supreme and human rights courts. For an introduction see Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz or Vrijschrift.
EDRi's answering guide points out procedural and substantive issues with ISDS. The guide has a focus on human rights and the negative effects ISDS has on our ability to reform copyright and patent law. If you do not have a lot of time you may like to focus on questions 5, 7, 8 and 13.
AK Europa (the Brussels office of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour), ÖGB Europabüro (the Brussels office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation), and Friends of the Earth Europe have set up an online tool, which features a template response, and allows for individual contributions to the consultation in a few clicks.
Corporate Europe Observatory published "Still not loving ISDS: 10 reasons to oppose investors' super-rights in EU trade deals".
Seattle to Brussels Network: Campaigners slam Commission’s mock consultation on investor rights in EU-US trade deal
Trade Justice Movement: TJM says no to ISDS
11.11.11: Traité transatlantique : répondons tous à la commission !
The FFII put on line its draft submission to the consultation "ISDS: A rigged system, avoid lock-in". The draft conclusion reads:
This note concludes that investor-to-state dispute settlement lacks conventional institutional safeguards for independence and has characteristics of a rigged system. The appointment of arbitrators is not neutral and gives the US an unfair advantage. The US never lost an ISDS case, we can not expect European companies to win major ISDS cases against the US, all the more as the US is not shy to exert pressure on arbitrators. We can expect that US companies will win ISDS cases against the EU and member states. This leads to four considerations.
First, ISDS arbitrators will be able to review all decisions of governments, legislators and courts, including the European Court of Human Rights, and they can award unlimited damages. The European Commission aims to add ISDS to trade agreements from which it is near impossible to withdraw. Given that ISDS lacks conventional institutional safeguards for independence, does not observe the separation of powers, has characteristics of a rigged system and gives the US an unfair advantage, the transfer vast powers to arbitrators without possibility of withdrawal would be imprudent. At the very least, to protect its future, the EU has to avoid a lock-in, should not deviate from standing European practice of stand-alone investment agreements. The EU should not add ISDS to trade agreements.
Second, the EU aims to create a global standard. Presently a minority of foreign investments is covered by ISDS, after ISDS agreements between the major capital exporting countries a large majority of global foreign investments would be covered by ISDS. Wide coverage of global foreign investments and impossibility to withdraw would create a near global lock-in. Given that the commission's reforms fail on many counts, a near global lock-in would give arbitrators unprecedented and unchecked powers. This would burden democracies, local companies, tax payers, human rights and the rule of law.
Third, quintessentially, states need a margin of appreciation. States which are constantly battered by threats and legal challenges can not function properly, can not take decisive action. The US protect themselves through a system rigged to their advantage. It is an existential threat to the EU not to be able to take decisive action, especially since the US can. Raison d'état necessitates to avoid this situation.
Fourth, foundationally, an essential aspect of liberalism is constitutional liberalism - the separation of powers, the creation of strong institutions. Sovereign decisional power accompanied by strong institutions can provide fairness. ISDS undermines the institutions. ISDS undermines the EU's vital interests and values, it has to be rejected. In doing so, the EU would give direction to the debate and create room to strengthen alternatives.