Suspend negotiations for an investment protection agreement between the EU and Myanmar
Civil society from Myanmar and the European Union are calling for the suspension of negotiations for an investment protection agreement between the EU and Myanmar until the European Court of Justice has ruled on the compatibility of the controversial Investment Court System (ICS) dispute settlement mechanism, with the EU Treaties.
Ahead of the fourth round of negotiations on an Investment Protection Agreement (IPA), the undersigned civil society organisations call the attention of decision-makers to the dramatic consequences that the EU-Myanmar IPA could have on human rights, democratic decision making and peace building in Myanmar.
Myanmar is in a state in transition, that faces formidable challenges to build regulatory frameworks, including to protect the economic, social and cultural right of its people as well as its natural resources.
Inclusion of an investor-state dispute settlement mechanism in the EU-Myanmar IPA will seriously hamper any initiatives for equitable and sustainable development by laying Myanmar wide open to multimillion dollar law suits by foreign investors should the governments introduce new and tighter regulation to protect public health, access to water, access to public services, degradation of the environment and regulation supporting a sustainable peace in Myanmar.
Politicians in the EU have begun to question whether ICS as it is currently included in the EU’s trade and investment agreement doesn’t conflict with the founding Treaties of the EU. In the political debate surrounding the signing of the CETA agreement between the EU and Canada, the parliament of the Belgian region of Wallonia requested and obtained the concession that the compatibility of ICS with the European Treaties must now be judged by the European Court of Justice.
The undersigned organisations demand that the Investment Protection Agreement negotiations between the European Union and Myanmar be suspended until the European Court of Justice issues this crucial ruling.
Myanmar should not feel pressured to prematurely accept an IPA with far-reaching substantive investor protections and investor-state dispute settlement. There is no compelling reason for Myanmar to sign an investment treaty like the one proposed by the EU that will only serve to lock-in future policy space in Myanmar, space that is much needed to make Myanmar’s transition towards a more democratic, equitable and sustainable development a success. Investment protection agreements are not a key determinant for foreign investors when they decide to invest abroadi.
Alfred de Zayas, Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order appointed by the Human Rights Council of the UN, has gone as far as to recommend that states abolish the investor–state dispute settlement system altogether.ii
Further, in Myanmar, the substantive provisions the IPA offers to foreign investors are likely to interfere with EU-backed efforts to bring Myanmar’ legislation with regard to human rights, labour and environmental protection in line with customary international law and standards. In this respect, an EU-Myanmar IPA including an investor-state dispute settlement mechanism (ICS) contradicts the EU’s own principles on policy coherence for development.
Signed by:
Myanmar organisations :
- Metta Development Foundation
- Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN)
- Paungku
- Myanmar People Alliance
- Danu Youth
- Freethinkers
- Developmental Justice Myanmar
- Community Response Group (ComReG)
- Ahlineain development organization
- Youth for Social Change (Myanmar)
- Myanmar Deaf Community Development Association – MDCDA
- Shan State Peace Task Force
- Shwechinthae Social Service Group (shwebo)
- Natural Green Alliance
- Sein Yaung So
- Kanbawza youth library network
- Mong Pan Youth Association
- Andin youth organization
- YPHN
- Phoenix Association
- Myanmar Youth Sociery Network
- Sidoktayar Development Organization (SDO)
- COM
- Citizens’ Rights Protection (Yangon)
- Myaung Mya Youth Network
- SHANAH
- KGG Network (Kungyangon)
- Lighthouse social development organization. Ayarwaddy
- Lighthouse social development organization. Tha Bound
- Youth Organization (TYO-YG)
- chin National Youth Network (KNYN), Kachin State
- KYO Kachin Youth Organization, Kachin State
- Green wave environmental conservation networks. Ayarwaddy
- Community Center
- Chin Youth Network
- KNGY (Kayan New Generation Youth),
- Karenni Nationalities People’s Liberation Front-Youth
- State Women Network
- Ta’ang Student Youth Union, Shan State
- LAIN Technical Support Group, (Loikaw, Karenni)
- Khun Tan Nwe PaOh Youth Network, Mon State
- We Are Tai (Peace and Local Development Group)
- Union of Karenni State Youth (UKSY) Karenni State , Loikaw
- Social Vision Services
- Tavoyan Youth Organization
- Women For Women Foundation (WWF)Karenni
- ThePLAN: Public Legal Aid Network
- kayan new generation youth- KNGY
- Nature Lover (Mandalay)
- Rakhine Youth Generation (Rakhine State)
- Third Eye Network (Mindat, Chin State)
- Taungzalatt (Mindat, Chin State)
- Shwe Bo Buddhist Youth (Shwe Bo, Sagaing), Aung Naing Aye
- Mizzima Hnalonethat (Loikaw, Kayah)
- Wet Nyo Nyo Tun (Moe Nyin, Kachin State)
- SNOW OR DEW BUDDHIST YOUTH (SODBY)
- Eco Wave CBO (Tahnintharyi), Beautiful Beach
- Development Network (BBDN) Nga Yoke Kaung Tsp, Ayeyarwaddy
- Kan Chay Arr Man fishery development Network Nga Yoke Kaung Tsp, Ayeyarwaddy
- MATA (AYY) Pathein, Ayeyarwaddy
- Pann Tai Shin regional development organization Maw Lamyine Kyun Tsp, Ayeyarwaddy
- Shwe Hmaw Wun Kyauktan region Development org. Kyauktan, Yangon
- Real image social development organization Bogalay, Ayeyarwaddy, Thein Than Oo
- Our Lovely World (Taunggyi, Shan State)
- Kun Gyan Gone Network, Kun Gyan Gone Tsp, Yangon
- Naga Students and Youth Federation-Yangon
- IFI Watch Myanmar, Yangon Division, Myanmar (Burma)
- IFI Watch Kyun Su, Tanintharyi Division, Myanmar (Burma)
- 88 Generation Myeik, Kyun Su, Tanintharyi Division, Myanmar (Burma)
- Green Network (Kyun Su)
- Kyun Su, Tanintharyi Division, Myanmar (Burma)
- Merguie Archipelago, Kyun Su, Tanintharyi Division, Myanmar (Burma)
- Myanmar China Pipeline Watch Committee
- Peace & Open Society (Kyaukse Township)
- Myanmar Alliance for Transparency & Accountability (Mandalay Working Group),
- Farmer Union (Kyaukse)
- Bago MATA Working Groug
- Bago Youth Network
- Myat Won Thit Knowledge Society
- The Gone Youth Network
- Shwe Yeik Sit Environmental Group
- Shwe Kyin Chit Thu Group
- Maw GwunThit Network
- Alin Theinta Group
- Alin Saytaman Group
- SDO
- Myitmakha Watch
- Kyaukyi Development Watch
- East light
- Sittaung Thansin Network
- Kalyana Mitta Foundation (Yangon), Bo Bo Lwin
- Wan Lark Development Foundation (Arakan)
- Social Program Aid for Civic Education (Arakan)
- Arakan Women Network (Arakan)
- All Arakan Civil Society Organizations Partnership (Arakan)
- AD 2030 Vision (Sittwe)
- Tha Zin Ligeal Aid (Arakan)
- Kyauk Phyu Social Network (Kyauk Phyu)
- SKY youth (Kyauk Phyu)
- Arakan National Network (Lay Daung)
- Ah Linn Tager Library (Sittwe)
- Environmental Protection Organization(Ponnagyun)
- Environmental Protection Organization(Kyauktaw)
- Environmental Protection Organization (Mrauk oo)
- Airavati
- Nagphe AWDO
- Metta Lat Kan – Myeik (Tanintharyi)
- POINT-Promotion Of Indigenous and Nature Together
- Tha Pyu Chaine Youth Parahita (Tha Pyu Chaine-Thandwe)
- Rammer Shwe Myae Parahita Association (Ram Bray)
- May Yu Rin Thwe Social Association (Rathedaung)
- New Generation Youth Association (Buthe Daung)
- Ma Yu Kam Development Assocation (Rathedaung)
- Independent Volunteers, PBDN, Yangon
- DDA Dawei Development Association
- DRA Dawei Research Association
- Dawei Active Youth
- Dawei Youth Fellowship
- Community Sustainable Livelihood Development Committee
- Dawei Farmer Union
- Green Generation
- Human Rights Watch – Dawei
- DWF – Dawei Watch Foundation
- Law Home Law Firm (Loikaw, Kayah State)
- KPN Kachin Peace Network
- Doh Myay Kun Yat / Land in our Hands Network
- Sane Lann Pyin Oo Lwin
- Maymyo Farmer Development network Pyin Oo Lwin
- Open Data Myanmar
- PoPP Pace on Peaceful Pleurism
- Tontay Youth Network
- Ayeyawady West Development Organization
- Action Group for Farmer Affair- Mandalay
- Action Group for Farmer Affair- Sagaing
- Action Group for Farmer Affair-Bago
- Action Group for Farmer Affair- Magway
- Action Group for Farmer Affair-Ayeyawady
- Action Group for Farmer Affair- Rakhine
- Action Group for Farmer Affair-Northern Shan
- Farmers Development and Environment Conservation Organization
- Farmers And Landworkers Union (SHAN)
- 139. Pa-O Youth Organization (PYO)
- Wunpawng Ninghtoi (WPN)
- Chin Youth Network
- KMSS
- Zinlum Committee (Tamphae) Kachin
- Kachin State Youth Network
- Uakthon Local Social Development Organization
- Peace and Justice (Kachin)
- Kanpetlet Land Development Organization
- K’ Cho Land Development Organization
- Golden Heard Organization
- Democratic Education Coner(DEC)
- Hin Thar Dagon Group ( Bago- Lappandan)
- Yoma Chitthu Group
- MATA ( Ayeyawady)
- Min Hla Youth Network
- Green Trust Pyin Oo Lwin
- Human Rights Educators Network
- United ACT
- Equality Myanmar
- Bedar Social Development Group
- Right and Peace Organization (Kalay)
- Alinn Bamaw Organization
- Mwae Taung Area Development Group
- Matupi Women Organization
- 88 Generation (Moenyin-Kachin)
- Shwechinthae Farmers Network
- Shwe Bo- Sagaing
- Mar Ya Ja Organization
- Myitkyina-Kachin
- Bommazayya Social Development Asdociation
- Green Light Organization
- MATA (Mon)
- Mon State CSOs Network
- Local Development Network (Mon)
- MATA (Shan)
- Pyoe Khinn Thit Foundation (Maubin)
- Mon State CSOs’ Network
- Ye Social Society
- BOBOWIN EMERGENCY RESCUE SERVICE
- Mawlamyine Natural Disaster prevention and rescue organization (Mon state)
- Bee Lin – Win Ka Village Ambulance association (Mon state)
- Ka Mar Sai Social support organization (Mon state)
- Mon state youth network
- Mawlamyine youth association
- Mawlamyine youth network
- Future Light Youth (Mon state)
- Nate Ban Shwe Pyi Youth Social association, Ka Tike Kye Village, Thahton (Mon state)
- Bilin CSOs’network
- Kan Let Youth Social organization – Kin Mon Chaung Village. Kyeikhto (Mon state)
- Karen Peace Support Network
- Farmers Network (Matehtilar District; Matehtilar, Tharsi, Wan Twin)
European and other Organisations :
- The Association Suisse-Birmanie
- Free Burma Campaign (South Africa) (FBC(SA))
- Burma Link
- U.S campaign for Burma
- Progressive Voice
- Swedish Burma Committee
- Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)
- Society for Threatened Peoples
- Seattle2Brussels network (S2B):
- War on Want
- Ecologistas en Acción (Spain)
- Secours Catholique – Caritas France
- Both ENDS
- AITEC
- Info Birmanie
- Transnational Institute (TNI)
1 In 2010, the European Commission interviewed 300 European companies about the relevance of the treaties, and find out that only 10% had a working knowledge of investment treaties, 40% had some general awareness and 50% had no knowledge at all. European Commission, Survey of the Attitudes of the European Business Community to International Investment Rules, TN Sofres Consulting on behalf of European Commission DG Trade, 2000 http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/html/111125.htm and http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/html/111127.htmIn another survey of American multinationals (among Fortune 500), “the responses indicate a low level of familiarity with BITs, a pessimistic view of their ability to protect against adverse host state actions, and a low level of influence over FDI decisions” J Yackee (2011) Do Bilateral Investment Treaties Promote Foreign Direct Investment?, 51 Virginia J Int’l Law, p429 http://ssrn.com/abstract=1594887.
2 ‘UN Independent Expert Alfred de Zayas recommends abolishing current ISDS regime’, in: Investment Treaty News, International Istitute for Sustainable Development (IISD), November 26, 2015. https://www.iisd.org/itn/2015/11/26/un-independent-expert-alfred-de-zaya…
3 Seattle2Brussels network (S2B) is a Europe-wide network of over 60 development, environment, human rights, women and farmers organisations, trade unions, social movements as well as research institutes.
