Responsibility in Investor-State Arbitration in the EU - Managing Financial Responsibility Linked to Investor-State Dispute Settlement Tribunals Established by EU's International Investment Agreements

Poglobljena analiza 03-12-2012

The Lisbon Treaty extends exclusive European Union competence to foreign direct investment (FDI). In this context the issue of dispute settlement will be included in future EU Investment Agreements. For such situations the European Commission has put forward a draft proposal on how financial responsibility could be shared between the EU and/or a Member State (MS). The proposal aims to address possible conflicts that may arise between the EU/Commission and the respective MS when claims are brought under investment agreements or chapters concluded between the EU (or the EU and its MSs) and a third state. Moreover, the proposal deals with the representation of the EU or MS in arbitral proceedings. The study provides background under public international law by setting out the responsibility of states and international organisations, and considers the financial reimbursement laws and policies of several federal states. Further analysis is provided on the proposal’s respective provisions on financial distribution, respondent status, settlement and the technical aspects of reimbursement. Particular attention is given to the external competence of the EU in relation to the internal competences of MSs, specifically with regard to standards of treatment. Other issues addressed include executive federalism with respect to allocating financial responsibility and the balance between unity of external representation and MS' interests. The conclusions are largely based on the issue of internal/external competence, acknowledging the importance of the language of future investment agreements and chapters in clarifying some of these technical aspects.