Press Release: EU agrees rules to manage investor-state disputes

The European Union on the 28 August 2014 took a step towards creating a comprehensive EU investment policy, with the publication of a Regulation setting out a new set of rules to manage disputes under the EU's investment agreements with its trading partners. The rules – set out in the Regulation on financial responsibility under future investor-to-state disputes – are a necessary component of a common EU investment policy.

The rules set up the EU's internal framework for managing future investor-state disputes. They define who is best placed to defend the EU’s and Member States’ interests in the event of any challenge under investor-to-state dispute (ISDS) in EU trade agreements and the Energy Charter Treaty. The rules also establish the principles for allocating any eventual costs or compensation. Member States will defend any challenges to their own measures and the EU will defend measures taken at EU level. In all cases, there will be close cooperation and transparency within the EU and the EU institutions.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Investor-state dispute settlement: Council confirms deal with EP http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-investor-state-dispute-settlement-council-confirms-deal-with-ep/

ESO: Background information: EU welcomes new UN Convention on transparency for investor-state dispute settlement http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-welcomes-new-un-convention-on-transparency-for-investor-state-dispute-settlement/

EUObserver, 04.12.14: EU governments paid €3.5bn in investor claims http://euobserver.com/political/126788

---