Draft Agreement for the Coordinated Suspension of Investor–State Dispute Settlement With Respect to COVID-19-Related Measures and Disputes
Why did IISD develop this draft agreement?
IISD developed the Agreement in response to growing concern among governments that ISDS could undermine their ability to take emergency public health and economic policy measures to respond to COVID-19 and its impacts. Even as the pandemic continues to disrupt lives and societies, international law firms and litigation funders have published guidance on how these measures could be challenged using treaty-based ISDS. Governments have already been threatened with treaty- and contract-based ISDS.
IISD is continuing to work with governments, regional economic communities, and other partners to raise awareness of this threat and provide options for how it can be mitigated.
How was the draft agreement developed?
IISD conducted broad consultations on the draft Agreement, receiving submissions from developing country investment negotiators, international law experts, and civil society organizations. The consultations were undertaken throughout 2020 through:
- Two virtual workshops (in French and English, respectively) for developing country investment negotiators.
- An online consultation on the first draft of the suspension language agreement.
You might also be interested in
Governments Must Shield COVID-19 Measures From Investor-State Arbitration
Governments need to be able to issue COVID-19 support packages without worrying about the possibility of facing a wave of arbitration.
Lukas Schaugg: "The Energy Charter Treaty hinders climate action"
The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), established decades ago to facilitate energy investments in Europe and Central Asia, is now being challenged and accused of protecting investments in fossil fuels. Faced with the failure of the reform processes undertaken so far, several European countries, notably France and Germany, have decided to exit the ECT. However, the treaty is trying to expand to Africa as new oil and gas fields are discovered on the continent. In this interview, Lukas Schaugg, International Law Analyst at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), describes the challenges of the ECT in the face of the climate emergency.
Lukas Schaugg : « Le Traité sur la charte de l’énergie entrave l’action climatique » (in French)
Mis en place il y a plusieurs décennies pour faciliter les investissements dans l’énergie en Europe et en Asie centrale, le Traité sur la charte de l’énergie (TCE) est aujourd’hui contesté et accusé de protéger les investissements dans les énergies fossiles. Face à l’échec des processus de réforme engagés à ce jour, plusieurs pays européens, notamment la France et l’Allemagne, ont décidé de sortir du TCE. Cependant, le traité tente de s’étendre vers l’Afrique au moment où de nouveaux gisements de gaz et de pétrole sont découverts sur le continent. Dans cet entretien, Lukas Schaugg, Analyste en droit international à l’Institut international du développement durable (IISD), décrit les enjeux du TCE à l’heure de l’urgence climatique.
Länders avhopp från omstritt energiavtal sätter press på Sverige (in Swedish)
Danmark är det senaste EU-landet som drar sig ur Energistadgefördraget, ECT. Avtalet skyddar energiinvesteringar och används för att kräva skadestånd på många miljarder när länder fasar ut olja och kol.