This week, the US and the EU will resume negotiations on investment protection in TTIP. The European Commission – claiming to have listened to public opinion – produced its proposal for a ‘new’ Investment Court System (ICS) that would allegedly replace the ‘old’ ISDS in all on-going and future investment negotiations. However, we believe that the proposed changes are just a ‘re-branding’ of the old ISDS system. The EU has not addressed the key problems of the ISDS and ICS systems both of which undermine democratic decision-making. Crucially, the new proposal is worse than the current practice of the member states’ stand-alone investment treaties from which it is possible to withdraw: both the EU and Member States (MS) would be locked in to the TTIP and CETA. We have identified five key serious concerns that exist in both the ISDS and ICS mechanisms:

• both ISDS and ICS give exclusive rights to foreign investors, thereby discriminating against domestic investors, citizens and communities, without any evidence of benefits to the wider society

• both ISDS and ICS can force governments to use billions in taxpayers funds to compensate corporations for public health, environmental, labour and other public interest policies, government actions and even court rulings. They do not ensure that private interests cannot undermine public policy objectives

• neither ISDS or ICS are subject to democratic principles and scrutiny. Parliaments will not be able to change the rules later on;

• both ISDS and ICS undermine the jurisdiction of European and MS courts as foreign investors can by-pass them;

• both ISDS and ICS ignore the fact that European, U.S. and Canadian legal systems are perfectly capable of handling disputes with foreign investors, based on the law that applies to everyone else in society.

The number of investor-state cases has recently sharply increased, with over 50 new claims filed annually in the last four years. The total number of known ISDS cases has now risen to 667 claims against a total of 105 countries in a diverse array of government policies, many of which are not traditional trade issues.

 

Statement against Investor Protection in TTIP, CETA, and other trade deals, February 2016

One example is the shocking case of Canadian pipeline developer TransCanada who is seeking to sue the US government for blocking the Keystone XL Pipeline as part of its fight against climate change. It is noteworthy that TransCanada is suing the US using four investor rights in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that are also included in CETA and the EU’s ICS proposal.

In addition, the key changes advocated by the Commission as improvements to the system in its recent proposal are riddled with legal shortcomings in two key areas: the alleged independence of the system and the alleged protection of the right to regulate.

While the introduction of so-called ‘judges’ to investment tribunals appears to be a positive step, they will be paid lucrative fees on a case by case basis providing a strong incentive to rule in favour of the investors in order to ensure future cases. This investor bias would most likely remain if the EU and its trading partners eventually introduced a regular salary for the ‘judges’ because in legal systems where only one side can sue, claimant-friendly rulings secure a steady flow of cases, power and authority for the adjudicators.

The right to regulate in the public interest does not protect against unlimited backward looking damages including expected profits and interests. It is furthermore undermined by the need for governments to take the ‘measures necessary’ to achieve ‘legitimate’ objectives leaving the criteria to define what measures are necessary and what constitutes legitimate objectives open for interpretation, and ultimately, arbitration by for profit adjudicators. An ISDS case may not prevent legislation, but it puts a hefty price tag on any law or regulation which could potentially cost billions in taxpayer money when a government is later sued for compensation. This has already proven to create a regulatory chill such as has been witnessed in Malaysia and New Zealand who were waiting for the outcome of the Phillip Morris ISDS case against Australia before implementing similar plain packaging legislation. The EU’s claim that it has protected the ‘right to regulate’ gives a false impression of security; health, environmental and social legislation remain under threat in the EU, the US and Canada if ISDS/ ICS is included in CETA and the TTIP.

While existing trade and investment treaties already severely limit the policy space that governments have, the inclusion of ISDS/ICS in CETA and TTIP would massively expand the investment arbitration system – and multiply liability and financial risks for governments on both sides of the Atlantic. ISDS in TTIP would newly empower more than 47,000 of the 51,495 US owned subsidiaries currently operating in the EU to launch ISDS attacks on European policies and government actions. Even if TTIP did not include the far-reaching investor rights, four out of five US firms operating in the EU – that is a total of 41,811 – could already become eligible for an ISDS case against the EU and its members using the CETA agreement if investments are structured accordingly. The danger of being sued under TTIP and CETA is even more real given that US, European and Canadian companies are already the most frequent users of investment arbitration. They are responsible for launching over 80 per cent of all known investor-state disputes globally. Indeed, UNCTAD’s recently updated online data shows that foreign investors launched more ISDS cases in 2015 than in any prior year – twice the number launched just five years earlier. 52 % of concluded ISDS cases have ended in an outright loss for the government or a settlement with the foreign investor.

Not only would the inclusion of ISDS/ICS in CETA and TTIP most likely lead to a massive explosion of investment arbitration cases against legitimate policies; their inclusion is a massive blow to democracy, human rights and the rule of law in any trade and investment agreement. In a time when all attention should be focused on averting a global climate catastrophe and on tackling the economic and social crises in many parts of the world, there is no space for agreements that would place giant obstacles in the way of the solutions. Governments must have the flexibility to put in place measures to protect their people and the planet without fear of expensive trade litigation being launched by corporations. If there is concern about weaknesses in domestic legal systems, we should be focusing on improving them in order to combine equal access to the law with a full capacity for the democratic scrutiny of the development of law.

We therefore cannot support the foreign investor protection proposed for TTIP and CETA, and call, again, for the exclusion of any form of Investor-State-Dispute Settlement from all current and future trade and investment agreements.

European/International Organisations:

Compassion in World Farming, Europe

Friends of the Earth Europe, Europe

SOLIDAR, Europe

Health and Trade Network, Europe

Alcohol Policy Youth Network, Europe

Bizolutioners – evolutionary solutions for human rights problems created by business, Europe

ClientEarth, Europe

WECF, Europe

WeMove.EU, Europe

European Digital Rights (EDRi), Europe

European Work Hazards Network, Europe

LobbyControl, Europe

SumOfUs, International

FIAN International, International

 

National Organisations in Europe:

Alternative und Grüne GewerkschafterInnen (AUGE/UG), Austria

Attac Austria, Austria

Attac Flachgau, Austria

DIE LINKE, Austria

eku-konstruktiv, Austria

Erklaerung von Salzburg für solidarische Entwicklung EVS, Austria

Evangelical Association for World Mission EAWM, Austria

Gewerkschaft Öffentlicher Dienst/ Universität Salzburg, Austria

Initiativplattform TTIP stoppen Oberoesterreich, Austria

Kath. Betriebsseelsorge Salzburg, Austria

Katholische ArbeitnehmerInnen Bewegung Erzdiözese Wien, Austria

Network Social Responsibility – Netzwerk Soziale Verantwortung (NeSoVe), Austria

SOL – Menschen für Solidarität, Ökologie und Lebensstil, Austria

Talente-Tauschkreis Salzburg, Austria

Collectif Alpha asbl, Belgium

MIG, Belgium

Réseau wallon de lutte contre la pauvreté, Belgium

11.11.11, Belgium

ATTAC Belgique, Belgium

ATTAC-Charleroi, Belgium

CGSP wallonne, Belgium

Change Partnership, Belgium

Cie D’ici P., Belgium

Collectif Roosevelt .BE, Belgium

Corporate Europe Observatory, Belgium

Équipes Populaires, Belgium

FIAN Belgium, Belgium

FIDA – Fédération Internationale de la Diaspora Afar, Belgium

Greenpeace, Belgium

groupe CNCD local, Belgium

ISVI, Belgium

Jeunes Organises et Combatifs Bruxelles, Belgium

Left Ecological Forum, Belgium

MOC Bruxelles, Belgium

Mouvement ouvrier chrétien, Belgium

MPEVH, Belgium

Quinoa asbl, Belgium

Social Platform, Belgium

Vie Féminine, Belgium

Confederation of Labour Podkrepa, Bulgaria

Foundation for Environment and Agriculture (FEA), Bulgaria

Solidarna Bulgaria, Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Left, Bulgaria

Za Zemiata, FoE Bulgaria, Bulgaria

Zelena Partiya Bulgaria, Bulgaria

Luridicum Remedium, Czech Republic

May Day, Denmark

The Ecological Council, Denmark

350 Finland, Finland

Animalia, Finland

Attac Finland, Finland

CRASH – Coalition for Research and Action for Social Justice and Human Dignity, Finland

Emmaus Aurinkotehdas ry, Finland

Friends of the Earth Finland, Finland

Friends of the Landless Finland, Finland

Hyvinvointivalion vaalijat ry, Finland

Maailmankauppojen liitto ry, Finnish Association of Worldshops, Finland

Parecon Finland, Finland

Physicians for Social Responsibility, Finland, Finland

Pro Ethical Trade Finland, Finland

Swallows in Northern Finland, Finland

Technology for Life NGO, Finland

TTIP Network Finland, Finland

Uusi Tuuli ry, Finland

AITEC, France

ATTAC France, France

Attac Marseille, France

BCA PACA FRANCE, France

Collectif Causse Méjean – Gaz de Schiste NON !, France

Collectif citoyen IDF Non aux pétroles et gaz de schiste et de couche !, France

Collectifs Isérois “STOP GHRM 38”, France

Confédération paysanne, France

COPRA, France

CPC!, France

Ecolectif Contre Gaz de Schiste Gignac et Environs 34, France

foodwatch France, France

Jeunes Ecologistes, France

Les Amis de la Terre, France

rdm.esindignées fr, France

STOP TAFTA CETA Nord Isère, France

TOX POPULI, France

Arbeitsgemeinschaft bäuerliche Landwirtschaft e. V., Germany

Arbeitskreis Fracking Braunschweiger Land, Germany

Attac Deutschland, Germany

Attac Trägerverein e. V. Regionalgruppe Kleve, Germany

Berliner Wassertisch, Germany

BI Gemeinsam gegen Gas- und Probebohrungen am Niederrhein, Germany

BI lebenswertes Korbach e. V., Germany

BLUE 21, Germany

Buergerinitiative kein-frack-in-wf, Germany

BUND – Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland; Friends of the Earth Germany, Germany

BUND Naturschutz in Bayern e. V., Germany

BUND-Erfurt, Germany

Bürgerinitiative Fracking freies Hessen n. e. V., Germany

Bürgerinitiative Fracking Freies Hamburg, Germany

Campact, Germany

Deutscher Naturschutzring (DNR), Germany

Digitalcourage e. V., Germany

FDCL Berlin, Germany

Foodwatch Germany, Germany

Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung, Germany

German-African Centre (DAZ), Germany

IBD Initiative Bürger für Demokratie, Germany

Interessengemeinschaft Schönes Lünne, Germany

ISSA – information centre on southern africa, Germany

Joshua Satelitte, Germany

KMU gegen TTIP (DE), Germany

Mehr Demokratie, Germany

Occupy Erfurt, Germany

PEGAH Wuppertal e. V., Germany

PowerShift e. V., Germany

SEEDS ACTION NETWORK (SAN Germany), Germany

TTIPunfairHandelbar, Germany

Vereinigung Demokratischer Juristinnen und Juristen e. V., Germany

WEED – World Economy, Ecology & Develoment, Germany

Fair Trade Hellas, Greece

GREENS-SOLIDARITY, Greece

Naturefriends Greece, Greece

ATTAC Hungary, Hungary

Védegylet, Hungary

Attac Ireland, Ireland

Fís Nua, Ireland

Keep Ireland Fracking Free, Ireland

Fairwatch, Italy

Locale-Globale, Italy

Žali.lt, Lithuania

Fundacja Strefa Zieleni, Poland

Institute of Global Responsibility, Poland

The Civil Affairs Institute, Poland

Oikos Cooperação e Desenvolvimento, Portugal

Plataforma Não ao Tratado TransAtlântico, Portugal

Alburnus Maior (Save Rosia Montana campaign), Romania

Asociaţia România Vie / Romania Alive Society, Romania

EcoV, Romania

Mining Watch Romania, Romania

Terra Mileniul III Foundation, Romania

Scottish Hazards, Scotland

Center for Sustainable Rural Development Kranj, Slovenia

Društvo Bober, Slovenia

Društvo Duh časa, Slovenia

DRUŠTVO MLADI IN TOBAK, Slovenia

Društvo za podporo radiu Marš, socialno podjetje, Slovenia

F.B SKUPINA, Slovenia

Focus, association for sustainable development, Slovenia

Institute for Sustainable Development, Slovenia, Slovenia

Konfederacija sindikatov 90 Slovenije, Slovenia

Legal-oreganisational centre for NGOs, Slovenia

Mitja Krapsa s.p., Slovenia

No Excuse Slovenia, Slovenia

Party for Ekosocialisem and Sustainable Development of Slovenia – TRS, Slovenia

Pirate Party Slovenia, Slovenia

Political party Solidarnost, za pravično družbo, Slovenia

PROTESTIVAL, Slovenia

Puntarji, movement for active citizenship, Slovenia

Slovenian Coalition for Public Health, Environment and Tobacco Control, Slovenia

Society Movement for Sustainable Development of Slovenia – TRS, Slovenia

Solidarnost (political party), Slovenia

Umanotera, Slovenia

Zavod Svibna, Slovenia

1. a) UTD Slovenija, Slovenia

Obalna sindikalna organizacija Koper, Slovenia

CCOO Euskadi, Spanish State

Amigos de la Tierra, Spanish State

Andalucía No TTIP, Spanish State

Asamblea de Andalucía, Spanish State

Asamblea de Andalucía Sevilla, Spanish State

Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz, Spanish State

Asociación Andaluza por la Solidaridad y la Paz (ASPA), Spanish State

Association Africanist Manuel Iradier, Spanish State

ATTAC BIZKAIA, Spanish State

Attac Navarra-Nafarroa, Spanish State

ATTAC Spain, Spanish State

CALCUTA ONDOAN, ONGD, Spanish State

Campanya No al TTIP Comarques de Castelló, Spanish State

CCOO, Spanish State

CEDSALA, Spanish State

CGT-Spain, Spanish State

Círculo Podemos Mar Cangas, Spanish State

Coordinadora de Organizaciones de Agricultores y Ganaderos (COAG), Spanish State

Colectivo para la Paz, Spanish State

Colla Ecologista d’Almassora, Spanish State

ECOAR, Spanish State

Ecologistas en Acción/Ekologistak Martxan, Spanish State

Ehttipez, Spanish State

ENTREPUEBLOS/ENTREPOBLES/ENTREPOBOS/HERRIARTE, Spanish State

EQUO, Spanish State

Errenteria IrabaziZ, Spanish State

Extrem Berries, Spanish State

FACUA-Consumidores en Acción, Spanish State

Front Civic, Spanish State

Fundacion Munubat, Spanish State

Ganemos Palencia, Spanish State

Gañemos Vilanova, Spanish State

ICV -Iniciativa per Catalunya Verds, Spanish State

Ingeniería Sin Fronteras País Vasco, Spanish State

Iniciativa Cambio Personal Justicia Global, Spanish State

Intersindical Alternativa de Catalunya – IAC, Spanish State

Intersindical Valenciana, Spanish State

Izquierda Unida Castilla y León, Spanish State

IZQUIERDA UNIDA EN VALLADOLID, Spanish State

Komite Internazionalistak, Spanish State

kostalde, Spanish State

Lambda, col·lectiu de lesbianes, gais, transsexuals i bisexuals, Spanish State

Leganes contra el TTIP, Spanish State

Mugarik Gabe, Spanish State

Observatori del Deute en la Globalització – ODG, Spanish State

ONG Elan-Euskadi, Spanish State

ONGd, Spanish State

PACD Sevilla, Spanish State

Partido X, Spanish State

Paz con Dignidad, Spanish State

PCA Sevilla ciudad, Spanish State

Plataforma de afectados por la hipoteca de Palencia, PAH, Spanish State

Plataforma en defensa de lo público, Spanish State

Plataforma no al TTIP de Palencia, Spanish State

Plataforma no al TTIP en Sevilla, Spanish State

Plataforma por lo Püblico y Contra los Recortes, Spanish State

Podemos Andalucia, Spanish State

Podemos Sanitat Catalunya, Spanish State

Podemos Sevilla, Spanish State

Podemos Vera, Spanish State

Podemos Vilanova de Arousa, Spanish State

Procés Constituent, Spanish State

REAS Euskadi, Spanish State

SETEM Hego Haizea, Spanish State

Solidaridad Internacional Andalucía, Spanish State

Sondicalista, Spanish State

Terra SOStenible, Spanish State

Unidad Popular, Spanish State

Union Sindical Obrera (USO), Spanish State

Vabus, Spanish State

València en Comú, Spanish State

VSF Justicia Alimentaria Global, Spanish State

Xnet, Spanish State

Friends of the Earth Sweden / Jordens Vänner, Sweden

Both ENDS, The Netherlands

Stichting SchalieGASvrij Haaren, The Netherlands

Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), The Netherlands

Foodwatch Netherlands, The Netherlands

Transnational Institute (TNI), The Netherlands

Vrijschrift, The Netherlands

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Netherlands, The Netherlands

Greater Manchester Hazards Centre Ltd., United Kingdom

Artists Against TTIP, United Kingdom

Families Against Corporate KIllers, United Kingdom

Global Justice Now, United Kingdom

Jubilee Debt Campaign, United Kingdom

Not For Shale, United Kingdom

StopTTIP uk, United Kingdom

The Gaia Foundation, United Kingdom

UK Hazards Campaign, United Kingdom

War on Want, United Kingdom

 

With the support of

Council of Canadians, Canada

Trade Justice Network (TJN), Canada

AmiEs de la Terre Québec, Québec

Comité pour les droits humains en Amérique latine- CDHAL, Québec

Eau Secours! Coalition québécoise pour une gestion responsable de l’eau, Québec

Quebec Network on Continental Integration (RQIC) and its member organisations:, Québec

Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS)

Alternatives

Association canadienne des avocats du mouvement syndical

Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale (AQOCI)

Attac-Québec

Centrale des syndicats démocratiques (CSD)

Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ)

Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN)

Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain (CCMM-CSN)

Fédération des femmes du Québec (FFQ)

Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ)

Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec (FECQ)

Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ)

Mouvement d’éducation populaire et d’action communautaire du Québec (MÉPACQ)

Réseau québécois des groupes écologistes (RQGE)

Syndicat des professionnelles et professionnels du gouvernement du Québec (SPGQ)

CesWaldorf NYC, USA

Institute for Policy Studies, Global Economy Project, USA

Electronic Frontier Foundation, USA

Fair World Project, USA

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, USA

Just Foreign Policy, USA

Popular Resistance (PopularResistance.org), USA

Public Citizen, USA