WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3290/97 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: ACP countries, OECD, UN Conference on Trade and Development, investment, multilateral agreement

30. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134/131

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(27 November 1997)

The competition to which the Honourable Member refers was brought to a close in June 1997 and the names of
148 successful candidates were placed on the reserve list.

The data released on the various stages of the competition have been set out in a table which is being sent direct to
the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

(98/C 134/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3289/97

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

(20 October 1997)

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

In its communication (cid:145)A level playing field for direct investment world-wide(cid:146) (COM(95) 0042 › C4-0118/95)
the Commission deals with the specific concerns of the developing countries in connection with Foreign Direct
Investment: (cid:145)These countries have a special interest that FDI contributes to human resource development and
that MNE accept a social responsibility when acting in the host country. They in particular want to avoid that FDI
inflows are motivated by low environmental or social standards, or that these standards are even lowered further
to attract FDI. The Community should therefore accept discussing complementary safeguards, such as codes of
conducts for good corporate citizenship for MNEs, to meet these concerns as an accompanying element to the
general principles assuring the free flow and the protection of investments(cid:146).

What steps has the Commission taken to guarantee respect for social, economic and ecological standards by the
MNE? What stage has the discussion reached on the introduction of codes of conducts for MNE?

Answer given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission

(13 November 1997)

The Commission continues to believe that a lowering of environmental or social standards in order to attract
foreign  direct  investment  (FDI)  should  be  avoided,  and  not  only  in  developing  countries.  The  Commission
therefore is in favour of a corresponding provision, which is currently discussed in the multilateral investment
agreement (MIA) negotiations.

The  Commission  also  supports  proposals  to  incorporate  the  Organisation  for  economic  co-operation  and
development (OECD) guidelines for multinational enterprises into the MIA.

Finally, the Commission would like to point out that there is little evidence of FDI flows to third countries with a
view to benefit from lower environmental or social standards, or that such standards have been lowered in order
to attract foreign investment.

(98/C 134/175)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3290/97

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

(20 October 1997)

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

In  the  Council  guidelines  for  the  OECD  negotiations  on  the  Multilateral  Investment  Agreement  (MIA)  of
27  November  1995  it  is  stated  that  (cid:145)During  the  negotiations  it  has  to  be  ensured  that  interested  non-OECD
countries are informed and consulted(cid:146).

Have consultations taken place between the Commission and the ACP countries on the implications and effects
of the MIA on these countries? What stage have the negotiations on the MIA reached in the OECD?