Letter to Dutch Minister Sigrid Kaag on ISDS and new model BIT text

Over the past two months, Both ENDS, Milieudefensie, SOMO and Transnational Institute have been conducting a campaign to raise awareness on Investor-to-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), which has now been in effect for 50 years.

Two reports and a leaflet were published as part of this campaign. In addition, discussions were held on this topic in the media, among the general public and in the Dutch Lower House, and more than 11,000 people wrote to Minister Kaag, urging her to put an end to the ISDS system. This included 273 international statements of support. Moreover, on 6 March 2018, the European Court of Justice delivered a significant verdict in the case of Achmea vs. Slovenia, ruling that ISDS in BITs between EU member states is in conflict with EU treaties.

In a joint letter (Dutch only) with the Coalition for Sustainable and Fair Trade, we call on Minister Kaag, among others, to follow up on her promises, whether verbal or written, with regard to revision of a new model text for Dutch Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs).