Shoulder-to-Shoulder for Open Markets and Investor Protection: Transatlantic Principles for International Investment

Abstract:

The European Union and the United States intend to cooperate to promote open, transparent, non-discriminatory global investment policies on the basis of Shared Principles for International Investment agreed in April 2012. The shared principles are designed to strengthen EU and US negotiating positions and in the process foster the establishment of an international standard in line with their wishes.

But it is already apparent that the rules for free market access for foreign investors, arrangements for open and transparent investor-state dispute settlement and definition of indirect expropriation are too imprecise. The European Union and the United States need to specify these rules, in particular as they have just kicked off negotiations for a comprehensive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), in which investment will also play an important role.