WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3291/97 by Wolfgang KREISSL-DÖRFLER to the Commission. OECD negotiations on the Multilateral Investment Agreement (MIA)
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 ·a Sornosa Mart ·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 Communityís LIFE projects. One of these concerns improving the infrastructure and