WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3291/97 by Wolfgang KREISSL-DÖRFLER to the Commission. OECD negotiations on the Multilateral Investment Agreement (MIA)
Date: 1997-10-20
Institutions: European Parliament, KREISSL-DOERFLER
Subjects: OECD, environmental policy, environmental protection, international agreement, investment, multilateral agreement, sustainable development

C 134/132

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

30. 4. 98

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission

(19 November 1997)

The African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries are participating in a comprehensive exercise discussing the
effects of globalisation on the flow of investment, as well as possible rules for these flows in the Organisation for
economic  co-operation  and  development  (OECD)  and  worldwide.  In  recent  months  the  United  Nations
conference  on  trade  and  development  (UNCTAD)  as  well  as  the  World  trade  organisation  (WTO)  have
established working groups dealing with these issues. The Commission and the Community play a constructive
and  essential  role  in  these  working  groups.  In  addition,  the  Commission  has  actively  participated  in  OECD
activities to inform non-OECD countries about the multilateral investment agreement (MIA) negotiations.

Overall,  the  negotiations  have  made  good  progress,  so  that  the  target  date  of  May  1998  agreed  by  OECD
ministers  for  conclusion  of  the  negotiations  seems  achievable.  However,  a  number  of  important  political
questions have not been settled yet, for example the application of the MIA to all levels of government, the scope
of the general exceptions as well as the avoidance of secondary investment boycotts (for example, the United
States Helms Burton Act).

(98/C 134/176)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3291/97

by Wolfgang Kreissl-Do¤rfler (V) to the Commission

(20 October 1997)

Subject: OECD negotiations on the Multilateral Investment Agreement (MIA)

In its current form the MIA would conflict with national and international policies supporting environmental
protection and sustainable development. Both Agenda 21 and the Framework Convention on Climate Change
emphasize the important contribution of technology transfer to environmental protection, but after adoption of
the MIA national legislation in this field could infringe it.

How  does  the  Commission  intend  to  ensure  that  the  objectives  of  Agenda  21  and  other  international
environmental protection agreements are not jeopardized by the MIA?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission

(19 November 1997)

The  Commission  is  fully  aware  of  the  importance  of  other  national  and  international  policies  aiming  at
improving environmental protection and sustainable development. In no case it is intended that the multilateral
investment  agreement  rules  undermine,  weaken  or  question  the  objectives  of  the  Agenda  21  or  other
international agreements on environment, or the ability of parties to implement effective environmental policies
domestically. The Commission actively participates in the discussions, in particular with the view to ensuring an
appropriate integration of environmental considerations in the agreement, and is therefore fully committed to
achieve a corresponding result.

(98/C 134/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3301/97

by Mar(cid:14)·a Sornosa Mart(cid:14)·nez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(20 October 1997)

Subject: Alarming mortality figures for birds in El Fondo de Elche

In the wetlands of El Fondo de Elche › Crevillente, in the Valencian autonomous community, lives 80% of the
European population of marbled teals (cerceta pardilla) a protected bird species, for which, the wetlands receive
subsidies from two of the Community(cid:146)s LIFE projects. One of these concerns improving the infrastructure and