Ref. Ares(2021)3902058 - 15/06/2021
111 EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Directorate General Internai Market and Services
Deputy Director General
Brussels,
3 0 OCT, 2018
FISMA _ _ _ _ ....
fisma.ddg. (2018)6146889
___
r _
Better Finance
Rue d' Arenberg 44
1000 Brussels
Belgium
,betterfinance. eu
Subject:
Investor Workshop on Investment Protection in the EU
Brussels 17 December 2018
Dear ----
It is my pleasure to invite Better Finance to a workshop on investment protection in the
EU, organised by my Directorate General on 17 December 2018 in Brussels. You will
find the provisional programme attached to this invitation.
The workshop will take place in the context of the Commission Communication on
"Protection o f intra-EU investment"' adopted on 19 July 2018 and will also cover certain
consequences of the recent
Achmea judgment. The Communication aims to strengthen
the business environment for EU investors. While EU law may not solve all problems
investors can face in their activities, the Communication clarifies to what extent EU law
protects EU investors' rights and how they can enforce those rights before national
administrations and courts.
The workshop's objectives are twofold: raising investors' awareness of their rights under
EU law as laid out in the Communication of 19 July 2018, as well as giving an
opportunity for companies to provide feedback on their practical experiences with cross-
border investments in the EU.
The workshop will bring together investors and investor associations from various
sectors as well as academia, representatives from the judiciary and Commission officials.
It will be chaired by Mr. Mario Nava, Director DG FISMA B and will provide
participants with the opportunity to contribute to the panel discussions. Investors'
feedback on their experiences when investing in other Member States will be welcome.
1 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release IP-18-4528 en.htm
Commission européenne, B-1000 Bruxelles/ Europese Commissie, B-1000 Brussel - Belgium. Telephone: +32 22991111.
Panel 1 on substantive rights investors have under EU law: How does EU law protect
investments? This panel will focus on investors' practical experiences in exercising the
fundamental freedoms of the EU Single Market and the protection they enjoy under the
EU Charter of Fundamental Rights such as the right to property, the freedom to conduct a
business, and the general principles of non-discrimination, proportionality, legal certainty
and protection oflegitimate expectations under EU law.
Panel 2 on enforcement of substantive rights under EU law: How can investors
enforce their rights under EU law? This panel will focus on the available dispute
settlement mechanisms under EU law and investors' experience in enforcing their rights
before national administrations and courts in EU Member States.
We would appreciate if you could forward this invitation to your members, as
companies with cross-border investment experience in the EU and national business
associations with an overview of investment practices would be welcome to share
their practical experience.
Members of your organisation interested m part1c1pating are invited to contact: -
@ec.europa.eu, Tel. + 32 229-
or
0ec.europa.eu, Tel. + 32 229-_ _ _ ,_b.y
15
---------------------
Nove m ber 2018.
Please note that places are limited. When confirming places for part1c1pants the
Commission services will take into account company size, coverage of different
economic sectors, FDI and portfolio investment, as well as geographic coverage to
ensure a broad and balanced representation of investors.
The workshop will be held in English, but opportunities for interpretation can be
explored on request. The workshop will take place in Conference Centre Albert
Borschette (CCAB), Rue Froissart 36, 1040 Brussels. Please note that participation costs
will not be covered.
My colleagges
@ec.europa.eu Tel.
+32 229-
and
@ec.europa.eu, Tel. +32
229-
·emain at your disposal for further information and follow-up.
---
Yours faithfully,
John BERRIGAN
Enclosure:
Provisional Programme
2