European Parliament committee signals opposition to ISDS

The conclusions of a working document prepared by Bernd Lange (S&D), chairman of the European Parliament’s trade committee, might signal its opposition to the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) clause in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

According to the document, the committee defended that 'a state-to-state dispute settlement system and the use of national courts are the most appropriate tools to address investment disputes'. The paper was going to feed into the draft report of MEPs’ recommendations to the European Commission and could still be subject to alterations.

Separately, EurActiv reported on the 15 January 2015 that France and Germany were planning a joint approach to opposing the ISDS element being included in the TTIP agreement being negotiated.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: TTIP and the Arbitration Clause (Special reports) http://www.europeansources.info/record/ttip-and-the-arbitration-clause-special-reports/

ESO: Key Source: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) http://www.europeansources.info/record/transatlantic-trade-and-investment-partnership-ttip/

European Parliament: International Trade Committee: Working Document in view of preparing the draft report on Parliament 's recommendations to the Commission on the negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&reference=PE-546.593&format=PDF&language=EN&secondRef=01

ESO: Background informaion: Consultation on investment protection in EU-US trade talks http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-report-presented-today-consultation-on-investment-protection-in-eu-us-trade-talks/

EurActiv, 15.01.15: France and Germany to form united front against ISDS http://www.euractiv.com/sections/trade-society/france-and-germany-form-united-front-against-isds-311267

EUObserver, 22.01.15: EU-US trade talks in 'troubled waters' https://euobserver.com/news/127331

European Parliament: Press Release, 22.01.15: Trade committee debate on new recommendations for TTIP talks http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20150119IPR10301/

European Parliament: Article, 21.01.15: Bernd Lange on the EU-US trade deal: 'a ship in troubled waters' http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20150120STO11202/

EurActiv, 04.02.15: French Senate tells TTIP negotiators to ‘abolish’ ISDS http://www.euractiv.com/sections/trade-society/french-senate-tells-ttip-negotiators-abolish-isds-311823

EurActiv, 27.02.15: France makes U-turn on TTIP arbitration http://www.euractiv.com/sections/trade-society/france-makes-u-turn-ttip-arbitration-312459

EurActiv, 09.03.15: Paris caught meddling in TTIP arbitration debate http://www.euractiv.com/sections/trade-society/paris-caught-meddling-ttip-arbitration-debate-312713

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