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*Karl P. Sauvant, PhD* *Resident Senior Fellow* *Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment* Columbia Law School - The Earth Institute, Columbia University 435 West 116th St., Rm. JGH 825, New York, NY 10027 | p: (212) 854 0689 | cell: (646) 724 5600 e: [log in to unmask] | w: www.ccsi.columbia.edu | t: @CCSI_Columbia <https://twitter.com/CCSI_Columbia> “A New Challenge for Emerging Markets: the Need to Develop an Outward FDI Policy”, "China Moves the G20 toward an International Investment Framework and Investment Facilitation", "China Moves the G20 on Investment", "The Rise of Self-judging Essential Security Interest Clauses in IIAs", "Can Host Countries have Legitimate Expectations?", "The Next Step in Governance: The Need for Global Micro-regulatory Frameworks", "The Evolving International Investment Law and Policy Regime: Ways Forward", "China's Outward FDI and International Investment Law", and "Policy Options for Promoting FDI in the LDCs" *are* available at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/AbsByAuth.cfm?per_id=2461782 and http://www.works.bepress.com/karl_sauvant/. View this email in your browser <http://mailchi.mp/law/perspective-209?e=5eb397be70> 哥伦比亚大学国际直接投资展望中文版都可以在我们的网站查看：http://ccsi.columbia.edu/ publications/columbia-fdi-perspectives. *Columbia FDI Perspectives* Perspectives on topical foreign direct investment issues No. 209 September 25, 2017 Editor-in-Chief: Karl P. Sauvant ([log in to unmask]) Managing Editor: Matthew Schroth ([log in to unmask]) A stronger role for the European Parliament in the design of the EU’s investment policy as a legitimacy safeguard <http://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=fb77db1fd3&e=5eb397be70> * <#m_-5970712019506122914__edn1> by Catharine Titi** <#m_-5970712019506122914__edn2> Since the Treaty of Lisbon and the transfer of exclusive competence over FDI from the member states to the EU, the European Commission has designed an innovative investment policy, leaving in the shadows another powerful actor whose contribution can easily be overlooked. Yet, in the post-Lisbon era, the European Parliament not only enjoys extensive powers in the formulation of the EU’s investment policy, but it has also made clear that it will not hesitate to use them. Its involvement is a significant and welcome development, given that the Parliament is the EU’s democratically elected institution, and an active role should be envisaged going forward. In the post-Lisbon era, the Parliament and Council act through regulations to define the framework for the EU’s investment policy. The Parliament may require that its recommendations to the Council or the Commission be taken into account. It has further acquired the right to be immediately and fully informed about investment negotiations. The Commission’s negotiators regularly brief the monitoring groups of the Parliament’s Committee on International Trade, and technical debriefings are held with members of the Parliament. This ensures that the two institutions are on the same page, and that the Commission can be mindful of the Parliament’s wishes. For good reason, the Commission *is* mindful of the Parliament’s wishes. Since the Treaty of Lisbon, the conclusion of international investment agreements (IIAs) requires parliamentary consent, effectively investing the Parliament with a veto power over investment negotiations. Cognizant of the sway of its new power, the Parliament has voted down two international agreements,[1] <#m_-5970712019506122914__edn3> demonstrating to those who had any doubt that its consent is not a mere formality to be taken for granted, but a means for it to exert leverage over negotiations. The “threat” that its consent may be declined ensures respect for its views. A combined reading of Parliament resolutions and EU IIAs reveals this interplay of power between Parliament and Commission. An example comes from investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS). The Parliament’s Resolution of April 6, 2011 stressed the need to reform the existing ISDS machinery to increase transparency and allow appeals.[2] <#m_-5970712019506122914__edn4> The Resolution of October 9, 2013 took the view that non-litigious dispute settlement should be provided.[3] <#m_-5970712019506122914__edn5> The Resolution of July 8, 2015 urged the Commission to replace arbitration with a system with publicly-appointed judges and an appellate mechanism.[4] <#m_-5970712019506122914__edn6> Subsequently, the Commission presented the two-tiered investment court system, increased transparency and added soft mechanisms. Of course, to say that the Parliament has a meaningful role is not to say that it has the *only* role in shaping investment negotiations; for example, the Resolution of July 8, 2015 followed the Commission’s own concept paper,[5] <#m_-5970712019506122914__edn7> which had already envisioned an investment court, transparent ISDS and an appellate mechanism. The concept paper itself was presented at a time when pressure was brought to bear on the Commission by member states, especially Germany, in relation to reform of ISDS and an investment court system. In reality, at the EU level, the Parliament expresses concerns and identifies risks; its inputs are broadly-worded policy suggestions. The Commission proposes ways to address these risks and has the technical expertise to elaborate concrete investment provisions. The EU’s investment policy appears then as the culmination of an institutional dialogue. That the Parliament’s imprimatur attaches to the new IIAs is appropriate and should be encouraged. Investment negotiations have moved center stage in the public debate, and it is hoped that the Parliament’s interest will not wane when the public debate subsides. As the Parliament continues to exercise its formal right to be informed, the specialized knowledge it gains will allow it to formulate more concise and informed policy suggestions. Going forward, it may also be opportune to move away from the current all-or-nothing consent model to allow the EU’s political institution formally to propose amendments during negotiations. Either way, the Treaty of Lisbon has given the Parliament the necessary powers to impact the content of EU IIAs and reduce the need, if any, for member state participation in the design of the EU’s investment policy. In the new state of affairs, the Parliament is a player to be reckoned with; at the same time, it needs to learn how to handle its new role. This larger public role of the Parliament is desirable. The greater its involvement, as a democratically elected institution, the stronger its legitimizing effect on investment negotiations, further rationalizing the competence transfer over FDI from the member states to the EU. An active, constructive and publicized participation of the Parliament may be key to convincing stakeholders that the design of the EU’s investment policy is both legitimate and representative. ------------------------------ * <#m_-5970712019506122914__ednref1> *The Columbia FDI Perspectives are a forum for public debate. The views expressed by the author(s) do not reflect the opinions of CCSI or Columbia University or our partners and supporters. Columbia FDI Perspectives (ISSN 2158-3579) is a peer-reviewed series.* ** <#m_-5970712019506122914__ednref2> Catharine Titi ([log in to unmask]) is a tenured Research Scientist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the Research Centre on Procurement Law and International Investments (CREDIMI) of the University of Burgundy. The author is grateful to Hanna Bourgeois and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful peer reviews. The author also wishes to thank Alberto Alemanno, Alexandra Koutoglidou and Carlo Pettinato for their useful comments. [1] <#m_-5970712019506122914__ednref3>In 2010, the Parliament declined its consent to the first version of the EU-US SWIFT-Terrorist Finance Tracking Program Agreement, and, in 2012, to the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. [2] <#m_-5970712019506122914__ednref4> Resolution of April 6, 2011 on the future European international investment policy, para. 31. [3] <#m_-5970712019506122914__ednref5> Resolution of October 9, 2013 on the EU-China negotiations for a bilateral investment agreement, paras. 45-46. [4] <#m_-5970712019506122914__ednref6> Resolution of July 8, 2015 on the negotiations for TTIP, para. 2(d)(xv). [5] <#m_-5970712019506122914__ednref7> “Investment in TTIP and beyond–the path for reform,” Concept Paper, 2015, http://trade.ec.europa.eu/ doclib/docs/2015/may/tradoc_153408.PDF. *The material in this Perspective may be reprinted if accompanied by the following acknowledgment: “Catharine Titi**, ‘**A stronger role for the European Parliament in the design of the EU’s investment policy as a legitimacy safeguard**,’ Columbia FDI Perspectives, No. 209, September 25, 2017. Reprinted with permission from the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (**www.ccsi.columbia.edu <http://www.ccsi.columbia.edu>**).” A copy should kindly be sent to the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment at **[log in to unmask]* <[log in to unmask]>*. * For further information, including information regarding submission to the *Perspectives*, please contact: Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, Matthew Schroth, [log in to unmask] - No. 208, Lisa Sachs, Jeffrey Sachs and Nathan Lobel, “Corporations need to look beyond profits,” September 11, 2017. - No. 207, Lilac Nachum, “How much social responsibility should firms assume and of which kind? Firms, Governments and NGOs as Alternative Providers of Social Services,” August 28, 2017. - No. 206, Victor Steenbergen and Ritwika Sen, “Increasing vertical spillovers from FDI: ideas from Rwanda,” August 14, 2017. *All previous FDI Perspectives are available at **http://ccsi.columbia.edu/publications/columbia-fdi-perspectives/ <http://ccsi.columbia.edu/publications/columbia-fdi-perspectives/>**. * *Other relevant CCSI news and announcements* - *On September 21, 2017*, Kaitlin Cordes and Jesse Coleman co-authored a short blog <http://columbia.us6.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=406980d565&e=5eb397be70>, titled "Not So Sweet: Tanzania Confronts Arbitration over Large-Scale Sugarcane and Ethanol Project," on a recently initiated investor-state claim regarding the Agro EcoEnergy project in Tanzania. The blog highlights some of the challenges being faced by Tanzania and other host states seeking to balance the various rights, obligations, priorities and interests affected by large-scale agricultural investments. - *On September 19, 2017*, CCSI launched its* Fall 2017 International Investment Law and Policy Speaker Series <http://columbia.us6.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=59448a9b3a&e=5eb397be70>*. Remaining speakers include Annette Magnusson, Fuad Zarbiyev, Adrian Jones, and Carlos Correa. This fall, the series is again co-sponsored by Crowell & Moring LLP and Baker & McKenzie LLP. The series is moderated by Ian Laird, Grant Hanessian and Kabir Duggal. All talks take place at Columbia Law School. Select presentations will be webcast; please see our website <http://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=735aa0eaa4&e=5eb397be70> for the schedule and more details. No registration is required. - *On October 4, 2017*, CCSI and the Columbia Society of International Law, will co-host a talk on "EU Investment Policy: The Legal Challenges," at Columbia Law School. The construction of a genuine EU investment policy has been and continues to be challenged from multiple sides. Mislav Mataija, who represents the European Union in World Trade Organization disputes, will give an overview of these battles and map out their implications for EU investment policy. *For more information, please visit our website here <http://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=19fe037a21&e=5eb397be70>.* Karl P. Sauvant, Ph.D. Resident Senior Fellow Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment Columbia Law School - Earth Institute Ph: (212) 854-0689 Fax: (212) 854-7946 *Copyright © 2017 Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), All rights reserved.* [log in to unmask] *Our mailing address is:* Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) Columbia Law School - Earth Institute, Columbia University 435 West 116th Street <https://maps.google.com/?q=435+West+116th+StreetNew+York,+NY+10027&entry=gmail&source=g> New York <https://maps.google.com/?q=435+West+116th+StreetNew+York,+NY+10027&entry=gmail&source=g>, <https://maps.google.com/?q=435+West+116th+StreetNew+York,+NY+10027&entry=gmail&source=g> NY <https://maps.google.com/?q=435+West+116th+StreetNew+York,+NY+10027&entry=gmail&source=g> 10027 <https://maps.google.com/?q=435+West+116th+StreetNew+York,+NY+10027&entry=gmail&source=g> Add us to your address book <http://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/vcard?u=ab15cc1d53&id=a61bf1d34a> unsubscribe from this list <http://columbia.us6.list-manage1.com/unsubscribe?u=ab15cc1d53&id=a61bf1d34a&e=5eb397be70&c=4782cdc4d3> update subscription preferences <http://columbia.us6.list-manage2.com/profile?u=ab15cc1d53&id=a61bf1d34a&e=5eb397be70> [image: Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp] <http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=monkey_rewards&aid=ab15cc1d53&afl=1> ------------------------------ Spam <https://antispam.law.columbia.edu/canit/b.php?c=s&i=01UdU15I1&m=9b461083c0d5&t=20170925> Not spam <https://antispam.law.columbia.edu/canit/b.php?c=n&i=01UdU15I1&m=9b461083c0d5&t=20170925> Forget previous vote <https://antispam.law.columbia.edu/canit/b.php?c=f&i=01UdU15I1&m=9b461083c0d5&t=20170925> ____ AIB-L is brought to you by the Academy of International Business. 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