In a surprising opinion, the Court of Justice of the EU’s Advocate General considers intra-EU investment arbitration compatible with EU law. Nikos Lavranos explains the reasoning and possible ramifications for current EU investment policy.
Internal EU politics
Commission’s MIC and New Zealand – Australia FTA wish list
In line with announcements made by president Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday (13 September 2017) in Strasbourg, the Commission released the draft mandate it is requesting from member states to negotiate free trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand.
Trade – key takeaways from Juncker State of Union speech
Trade featured first on a very long list of policy and EU reform proposals formulated by the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker during his annual ‘State of the Union’ speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday (13 September 2017). Announcements include the finalisation of a …
Comment: Separation of investment from trade agreements could delay FTA pipeline
The Commission has been following up on the May 2017 Court of Justice of the EU’s Opinion 2/15 regarding the division of competences between the EU and the member states of different aspects of the EU Singapore free trade agreement concluded in 2014. This process could delay the ratification …
Belgium files four questions to CJEU on CETA’s investment court
The move was initially planned for the spring 2017. It came in September. Belgium filed on Wednesday (6 September) a request for an opinion of the Court of Justice of the European Union on the compatibility of CETA’s investment court with EU law.
French constitutional decision removes further obstacle to CETA ratification
Sneaky. But unsurprising. France’s constitutional council delivered its verdict on the EU Canada CETA free trade agreement in the depths of summer. On the very last day of July 2017, France’s so-called ‘wise men’ disclosed that they had strictly no objections to the controversial trade deal which more than …
In brief: Member states agree to make Japan FTA negotiation mandate public
At a trade policy meeting this morning (14 July 2017) member states diplomats unanimously agreed to declassify negotiating directives in trade negotiations with Japan, sources told Borderlex. The European Parliament, backed by national parliaments, civil society organisations, and the EU Ombudsman have repeatedly called on the EU to release its trade negotiation …
Retailers blast Parliament position on new EU trade defence method
The Foreign Trade Association, the EU’s main retailing and light industry organisation, released a new position paper on EU plans to adapt its trade defence methodology as it moves to do away with ‘non market economy’ status for countries like China. The organisation calls on the European Parliament to review its demands. The move came …
Comment – ‘Regulating globalisation’ could lead to short-sighted policies
All the current talk about ‘regulating’ globalisation in Europe could lead to short-sighted protectionist policies. Corinne Vadcar outlines some pathways to make the most of openness and digitalisation.
EU Summit: investment screening divides member states
The European Council on Friday (23 June 2017) yielded few surprising results in the area of trade – which was only one topic among others, including defence cooperation and Brexit. Member states reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to sustaining free trade and open markets, while developing a more ‘robust’ …
