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96<br />

“We have tried to explain how much we believe the Singapore issues, such as<br />

trade facilitation, are the key, not the hindrance, to development.”280<br />

In view of this immense significance given to the Singapore-issues by the European<br />

Commission, the BBC in the run-up to Cancún could not resist to spread the<br />

news that henceforth the focus would be on the “Brussels-issues.” 281 And especially<br />

two of these Brussels-issues are of special importance for the EU: Investment and<br />

government procurement.<br />

In this context the Commission envisions the following with respect to the investment<br />

issue:<br />

“We believe that it is in the interest of all countries to create a more stable and<br />

transparent climate for FDI world-wide. In our view, the WTO should focus on<br />

FDI, leaving aside short-term capital movements.<br />

Non-discrimination, transparency and predictability of domestic laws applicable<br />

to FDI should be the guiding principles for the investment framework<br />

that we envisage to negotiate.<br />

The admission of investors should be dealt with following a gradual approach:<br />

each government should be able to decide which sectors can be opened to<br />

foreign investors and which ones cannot, according to transparent, positive<br />

and non-discriminatory commitments.<br />

Each government should also preserve the right to regulate the economic<br />

activity within its territory, including in the fields of development, environment<br />

and social conditions.<br />

The dispute settlement mechanism should be that of the WTO. Investor-to-<br />

State arbitration does not fit in the WTO framework, and should be left to<br />

bilateral agreements.<br />

Rules on investment protection, for instance in case of expropriation, could<br />

also be discussed, if WTO Members found it useful. Any such rules, however,<br />

must not affect a host country’s right to regulate, in a non-discriminatory manner,<br />

the behavior of firms in its territory.” 282<br />

At the same time, the negotiating side for the EU, after the “failure” of Cancún,<br />

seems to have made a shift in orientation:<br />

280<br />

Speech by Commissioner Pascal Lamy to the United Nations, October 31, 2003 “IS THERE LIFE AFTER<br />

CANCUN?”.<br />

281<br />

http://www.bbc.co.uk/portuguese/economia/story/2003/09/030911_casssuca2mp.shtml.<br />

282<br />

EU: DG Trade: http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/sectoral/investment/conswtoag_inv.htm.

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