RECOMMENDATIONÌýon the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the United Nations Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration
4.12.2024Ìý-Ìý(07011/2024 – C10‑0080/2024 – )Ìý-Ìý***
Committee on International Trade
Rapporteur: Anna Cavazzini
DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION
on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the United Nations Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration
(07011/2024 – C10‑0080/2024 – )
(Consent)
ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾,
–Ìýhaving regard to the draft Council decision (07011/2024),
–Ìýhaving regard to the United Nations Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration (07012/2024),
–Ìýhaving regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with ArticleÌý207(4) first subparagraph and Article 218(6) second subparagraph, pointÌý(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C10‑0080/2024),
–Ìýhaving regard to Rule 107(1) and (4) and Rule 117(7) of its Rules of Procedure,
–Ìýhaving regard to the recommendation of the Committee on International Trade (A10-0021/2024),
1.ÌýGives its consent to the conclusion of the agreement;
2.ÌýInstructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States, as well as to the UNCITRAL Secretariat.
EXPLANTORY STATEMENT
The UN ‘Mauritius’ Convention on transparency for Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) marks a step towards greater public access to documents and hearings, as well as the inclusion of civil society in disputes brought by investors against States under investment treaties.Ìý
Its ratification by the EU has been a long standing request by the ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾, including in the 2022 European ºÏ·¨²©²ÊÍøÕ¾ resolution on the Future of EU International Investment Policy. Under the arbitration rules that commonly govern ISDS proceedings, disputes can remain hidden from public view from their launch until their conclusion. One of the parties can demand this secrecy, even though cases can target democratically decided measures, and lead to awards in the billions. Ensuring full transparency should be a minimum requirement.
The Mauritius Convention facilitates the application of the United Nations Commission of International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Transparency Rules to investment treaties concluded prior to 1 April 2014. These rules require all documents, including tribunal decisions and party submissions, to be made public; that hearings be open to the public; and that interested parties, such as civil society organisations, be allowed to make submissions to the tribunal. All EU agreements concluded after 2014 already include similar transparency requirements.Ìý
The convention retroactively applies to investment treaties signed before the introduction of the UNCITRAL transparency rules. Contracting parties who ratify the convention can have the new rules applied in disputes under older treaties, without the need to renegotiate them individually.
Approximately 1,200 agreements involving EU Member States fall under the scope of the Convention. The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is the only treaty covered at EU level.
Ratifying the Convention is a first step in the broader reform of investment dispute settlement within the framework of the United Nations Commission for International Trade Law for the creation of a Multilateral Investment Court. Its method should be replicated, for instance in the framework of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's work to align investment treaties with the Paris Agreement climate goals.
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ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONSÌýFROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT
The rapporteur declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.
PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
Title |
Conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the United Nations Convention on transparency in treaty-based investor-State arbitration |
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References |
07011/2024 – C10-0080/2024 – |
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Date of consultation or request for consent |
12.7.2024 |
Ìý |
Ìý |
Ìý |
Committee(s) responsible |
INTA |
Ìý |
Ìý |
Ìý |
Rapporteurs ÌýDate appointed |
Anna Cavazzini 30.9.2024 |
Ìý |
Ìý |
Ìý |
Discussed in committee |
18.11.2024 |
Ìý |
Ìý |
Ìý |
Date adopted |
3.12.2024 |
Ìý |
Ìý |
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Result of final vote |
+: –: 0: |
34 0 2 |
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Members present for the final vote |
Manon Aubry, Christophe Bay, Brando Benifei, Lynn Boylan, Anna BryÅ‚ka, Udo Bullmann, Daniel Caspary, Benoit Cassart, Markéta Gregorová, Céline Imart, Karin Karlsbro, Rudi Kennes, Sebastian Kruis, Bernd Lange, Ilia Lazarov, Miriam Lexmann, Gabriel Mato, Javier Moreno Sánchez, Åžtefan MuÅŸoiu, Daniele Polato, Majdouline Sbai, Lukas Sieper, Francesco Torselli, Inese Vaidere, Kathleen Van Brempt, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, Catarina Vieira, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Juan Ignacio Zoido Ãlvarez |
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Substitutes present for the final vote |
Mika Aaltola, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Barry Cowen, Borja Giménez Larraz, Cristina Maestre |
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Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote |
Delara Burkhardt, Loránt Vincze |
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Date tabled |
4.12.2024 |
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Ìý
FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE
34 |
+ |
ECR |
Daniele Polato, Francesco Torselli |
NI |
Lukas Sieper |
PPE |
Mika Aaltola, Daniel Caspary, Borja Giménez Larraz, Céline Imart, Ilia Lazarov, Miriam Lexmann, Gabriel Mato, Inese Vaidere, Loránt Vincze, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Juan Ignacio Zoido Ãlvarez |
PfE |
Sebastian Kruis |
Renew |
Benoit Cassart, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Barry Cowen, Karin Karlsbro, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne |
S&D |
Brando Benifei, Udo Bullmann, Delara Burkhardt, Bernd Lange, Cristina Maestre, Javier Moreno Sánchez, Ştefan Muşoiu, Kathleen Van Brempt |
The Left |
Manon Aubry, Lynn Boylan, Rudi Kennes |
Verts/ALE |
Markéta Gregorová, Majdouline Sbai, Catarina Vieira |
Ìý
0 |
- |
Ìý |
Ìý |
Ìý
2 |
0 |
PfE |
Christophe Bay, Anna Bryłka |
Ìý
Key to symbols:
+Ìý:Ìýin favour
-Ìý:Ìýagainst
0Ìý:Ìýabstention
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