This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Stakeholder contacts and internal correspondence on the Multilateral Investment Court (MIC)'.



Unless otherwise specified, all redactions in this document are justified under Article 
4.1(b) of Regulation 1049/2001.
Ref. Ares(2017)1690718 - 29/03/2017
Ref. Ares(2018)6087220 - 28/11/2018
To: 
REDONNET Denis (TRADE); 
 (TRADE); 
 (TRADE); 
 (TRADE); 
 (TRADE); 
(TRADE); 
 (TRADE); 
 (TRADE); 
 (TRADE); 
 (TRADE) 
Cc: 
 (TRADE); 
 (TRADE) 
Subject: 
Meeting report: stakeholder meeting on MIC, Vienna, 22 February 2017 
Meeting report: Inter-ministerial stakeholder meeting on the multilateral investment court project 
organised by the Austrian Ministry of Economy, Vienna, 22 February 2017 

Upon invitation by the Austrian Ministry of Science, Research and Economy, I attended an inter-
ministerial stakeholder meeting on the EU proposal to work towards the creation of a multilateral 
investment court in Vienna, Austria, on 22 February 2017. 
Participants came from Austrian federal Ministries (Economy, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Social 
Affairs), the Federal Chancellery, regional governments, as well as accredited Austrian social partners 
(industry, trade unions, lawyers).  
I introduced the background, history, rationale and main contours of the multilateral investment court 
project, as well as recent activities undertaken by the EU (technical and ministerial meetings with third 
countries, impact assessment/public consultation), before outlining possible next steps. 
During the following Q&A session, questions raised related in particular to investors' obligations and the 
possibility to bring claims against investors before the court, possible accompanying activities for 
developing countries, the role of governments and of investors in selecting adjudicators, possible 
negotiation fora, compatibility of Investment Court Systems and a multilateral investment court with EU-
law, the scope of a future court (in particular with regard to intra-EU BITs), enforcement of decisions of 
the court, the interest expressed by third countries for the project, as well as possible institutional features 
of the court. 
Overall, the seemed to be a real interest in the project, with some critical voices nevertheless on the 
rationale of creating an investment court (trade unions) or the EU's approach to break with the principles 
of arbitration (industry). The Austrian Ministry of Economy reiterated its support for the project, with 
reference to the Council declarations adopted at the occasion of the CETA signature.   
DG TRADE – F2