Side event at the UNCITRAL Working Group III: The virtues and pitfalls of a Multilateral Investment Court.

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Written by: Bart-Jaap Verbeek

Published on: 11 March 2019

Between 1 and 5 April 2019, delegations from across the world will meet at the United Nations to discuss the reform of the current system of investor-to-state dispute settlement (ISDS) at the international level.

Those discussions have been the scene of diverging views and interests. The European Union (EU) proposes to establish a Multilateral Investment Court (MIC), while other delegations prefer to work towards ‘softer’ reforms to address the problems identified by UNCITRAL’s Working Group III so far.  At the same time, there are delegations calling on the Working Group to take on board the broader concerns related to the ISDS system as part of its working plan.

Inside the UN offices on April 4, 2019 at 2:00pm, a group of civil society organisations (SOMO, ClientEarth(opens in new window) and Friends of the Earth Europe(opens in new window) ) will give the floor to distinguished speakers and experts to discuss the problems with ISDS, the MIC as a possible solution, and suggested directions for UNCITRAL. The debate will be open for interested members of the Working Group, including government delegates, academics and civil society, to ask questions and participate in the discussions.

To date, the confirmed speakers are:

• Jane Kelsey, Law Professor at the University of Auckland
• Colin Brown, Deputy Head of Unit, European Commission
• Jaemin Lee, Law Professor at the Seoul National University
• Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch

The debate will be moderated by journalist Haley Sweetland Edwards

For more information, please contact: b.verbeek@somo.nl

Posted in category:

News

Written by:

Written by: Bart-Jaap Verbeek

Published on: 11 March 2019