Suspend Negotiations For An Investment Protection Agreement Between The EU And Myanmar

Ahead of the fourth round of negotiations on an Investment Protection Agreement (IPA), the undersigned civil society organisations call the attention of decision-makers to the dramatic consequences that the EU-Myanmar IPA could have on human rights, democratic decision making and peace building in Myanmar.

Myanmar is in a state in transition, that faces formidable challenges to build regulatory frameworks, including to protect the economic, social and cultural right of its people as well as its natural resources.

Inclusion of an investor-state dispute settlement mechanism in the EU-Myanmar IPA will seriously hamper any initiatives for equitable and sustainable development by laying Myanmar wide open to multimillion dollar law suits by foreign investors should the governments introduce new and tighter regulation to protect public health, access to water, access to public services, degradation of the environment and regulation supporting a sustainable peace in Myanmar.

Politicians in the EU have begun to question whether ICS as it is currently included in the EU’s trade and investment agreement doesn’t conflict with the founding Treaties of the EU. In the political debate surrounding the signing of the CETA agreement between the EU and Canada, the parliament of the Belgian region of Wallonia requested and obtained the concession that the compatibility of ICS with the European Treaties must now be judged by the European Court of Justice.

The undersigned organisations demand that the Investment Protection Agreement negotiations between the European Union and Myanmar be suspended until the European Court of Justice issues this crucial ruling.

Myanmar should not feel pressured to prematurely accept an IPA with far-reaching substantive investor protections and investor-state dispute settlement. There is no compelling reason for Myanmar to sign an investment treaty like the one proposed by the EU that will only serve to lock-in future policy space in Myanmar, space that is much needed to make Myanmar’s transition towards a more democratic, equitable and sustainable development a success. Investment protection agreements are not a key determinant for foreign investors when they decide to invest abroadi.

Alfred de Zayas, Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order appointed by the Human Rights Council of the UN, has gone as far as to recommend that states abolish the investor–state dispute settlement system altogether.ii 

Further, in Myanmar, the substantive provisions the IPA offers to foreign investors are likely to interfere with EU-backed efforts to bring Myanmar’ legislation with regard to human rights, labour and environmental protection in line with customary international law and standards. In this respect, an EU-Myanmar IPA including an investor-state dispute settlement mechanism (ICS) contradicts the EU’s own principles on policy coherence for development.

Signed by:

Myanmar organisations :

1. Metta Development Foundation
2. Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN)
3. Paungku
4. Myanmar People Alliance
5. Danu Youth
6. Freethinkers
7. Developmental Justice Myanmar
8. Community Response Group (ComReG)
9. Ahlineain development organization
10. Youth for Social Change (Myanmar)
11. Myanmar Deaf Community Development Association – MDCDA
12. Shan State Peace Task Force
13. Shwechinthae Social Service Group (shwebo)
14. Natural Green Alliance
15. Sein Yaung So
16. Kanbawza youth library network
17. Mong Pan Youth Association
18. Andin youth organization
19. YPHN
20. Phoenix Association
21. Myanmar Youth Sociery Network
22. Sidoktayar Development Organization (SDO)
23. COM
24. Citizens’ Rights Protection (Yangon)
25. Myaung Mya Youth Network
26. SHANAH
27. KGG Network (Kungyangon)
28. Lighthouse social development organization. Ayarwaddy
29. Lighthouse social development organization. Tha Bound
30. Youth Organization (TYO-YG)
31. chin National Youth Network (KNYN), Kachin State
32. KYO Kachin Youth Organization, Kachin State
33. Green wave environmental conservation networks. Ayarwaddy
34. Community Center
35. Chin Youth Network
36. KNGY (Kayan New Generation Youth),
37. Karenni Nationalities People’s Liberation Front-Youth
38. State Women Network
39. Ta’ang Student Youth Union, Shan State
40. LAIN Technical Support Group, (Loikaw, Karenni)
41. Khun Tan Nwe PaOh Youth Network, Mon State
42. We Are Tai (Peace and Local Development Group)
43. Union of Karenni State Youth (UKSY) Karenni State , Loikaw
44. Social Vision Services
45. Tavoyan Youth Organization
46. Women For Women Foundation (WWF)Karenni
47. ThePLAN: Public Legal Aid Network
48. kayan new generation youth- KNGY
49. Nature Lover (Mandalay)
50. Rakhine Youth Generation (Rakhine State)
51. Third Eye Network (Mindat, Chin State)
52. Taungzalatt (Mindat, Chin State)
53. Shwe Bo Buddhist Youth (Shwe Bo, Sagaing), Aung Naing Aye
54. Mizzima Hnalonethat (Loikaw, Kayah)
55. Wet Nyo Nyo Tun (Moe Nyin, Kachin State)
56. SNOW OR DEW BUDDHIST YOUTH (SODBY)
57. Eco Wave CBO (Tahnintharyi), Beautiful Beach
58. Development Network (BBDN) Nga Yoke Kaung Tsp, Ayeyarwaddy
59. Kan Chay Arr Man fishery development Network Nga Yoke Kaung Tsp, Ayeyarwaddy
60. MATA (AYY) Pathein, Ayeyarwaddy
61. Pann Tai Shin regional development organization Maw Lamyine Kyun Tsp, Ayeyarwaddy
62. Shwe Hmaw Wun Kyauktan region Development org. Kyauktan, Yangon
63. Real image social development organization Bogalay, Ayeyarwaddy, Thein Than Oo
64. Our Lovely World (Taunggyi, Shan State)
65. Kun Gyan Gone Network, Kun Gyan Gone Tsp, Yangon
66. Naga Students and Youth Federation-Yangon
67. IFI Watch Myanmar, Yangon Division, Myanmar (Burma)
68. IFI Watch Kyun Su, Tanintharyi Division, Myanmar (Burma)
69. 88 Generation Myeik, Kyun Su, Tanintharyi Division, Myanmar (Burma)
70. Green Network (Kyun Su)
71. Kyun Su, Tanintharyi Division, Myanmar (Burma)
72. Merguie Archipelago, Kyun Su, Tanintharyi Division, Myanmar (Burma)
73. Myanmar China Pipeline Watch Committee
74. Peace & Open Society (Kyaukse Township)
75. Myanmar Alliance for Transparency & Accountability (Mandalay Working Group),
76. Farmer Union (Kyaukse)
77. Bago MATA Working Groug
78. Bago Youth Network
79. Myat Won Thit Knowledge Society
80. The Gone Youth Network
81. Shwe Yeik Sit Environmental Group
82. Shwe Kyin Chit Thu Group
83. Maw GwunThit Network
84. Alin Theinta Group
85. Alin Saytaman Group
86. SDO
87. Myitmakha Watch
88. Kyaukyi Development Watch
89. East light
90. Sittaung Thansin Network
91. Kalyana Mitta Foundation (Yangon), Bo Bo Lwin
92. Wan Lark Development Foundation (Arakan)
93. Social Program Aid for Civic Education (Arakan)
94. Arakan Women Network (Arakan)
95. All Arakan Civil Society Organizations Partnership (Arakan)
96. AD 2030 Vision (Sittwe)
97. Tha Zin Ligeal Aid (Arakan)
98. Kyauk Phyu Social Network (Kyauk Phyu)
99. SKY youth (Kyauk Phyu)
100. Arakan National Network (Lay Daung)
101. Ah Linn Tager Library (Sittwe)
102. Environmental Protection Organization(Ponnagyun)
103. Environmental Protection Organization(Kyauktaw)
104. Environmental Protection Organization (Mrauk oo)
105. Airavati
106. Nagphe AWDO
107. Metta Lat Kan – Myeik (Tanintharyi)
108. POINT-Promotion Of Indigenous and Nature Together
109. Tha Pyu Chaine Youth Parahita (Tha Pyu Chaine-Thandwe)
110. Rammer Shwe Myae Parahita Association (Ram Bray)
111. May Yu Rin Thwe Social Association (Rathedaung)
112. New Generation Youth Association (Buthe Daung)
113. Ma Yu Kam Development Assocation (Rathedaung)
114. Independent Volunteers, PBDN, Yangon
115. DDA Dawei Development Association
116. DRA Dawei Research Association
117. Dawei Active Youth
118. Dawei Youth Fellowship
119. Community Sustainable Livelihood Development Committee
120. Dawei Farmer Union
121. Green Generation
122. Human Rights Watch – Dawei
123. DWF – Dawei Watch Foundation
124. Law Home Law Firm (Loikaw, Kayah State)
125. KPN Kachin Peace Network
126. Doh Myay Kun Yat / Land in our Hands Network
127. Sane Lann Pyin Oo Lwin
128. Maymyo Farmer Development network Pyin Oo Lwin
129. Open Data Myanmar
130. PoPP Pace on Peaceful Pleurism
131. Tontay Youth Network
132. Ayeyawady West Development Organization
133. Action Group for Farmer Affair- Mandalay
134. Action Group for Farmer Affair- Sagaing
135. Action Group for Farmer Affair-Bago
136. Action Group for Farmer Affair- Magway
137. Action Group for Farmer Affair-Ayeyawady
138. Action Group for Farmer Affair- Rakhine
139. Action Group for Farmer Affair-Northern Shan
140. Farmers Development and Environment Conservation Organization
141. Farmers And Landworkers Union (SHAN)
142. 139. Pa-O Youth Organization (PYO)
143. Wunpawng Ninghtoi (WPN)
144. Chin Youth Network
145. KMSS
146. Zinlum Committee (Tamphae) Kachin
147. Kachin State Youth Network
148. Uakthon Local Social Development Organization
149. Peace and Justice (Kachin)
150. Kanpetlet Land Development Organization
151. K’ Cho Land Development Organization
152. Golden Heard Organization
153. Democratic Education Coner(DEC)
154. Hin Thar Dagon Group ( Bago- Lappandan)
155. Yoma Chitthu Group
156. MATA ( Ayeyawady)
157. Min Hla Youth Network
158. Green Trust Pyin Oo Lwin
159. Human Rights Educators Network
160. United ACT
161. Equality Myanmar
162. Bedar Social Development Group
163. Right and Peace Organization (Kalay)
164. Alinn Bamaw Organization
165. Mwae Taung Area Development Group
166. Matupi Women Organization
167. 88 Generation (Moenyin-Kachin)
168. Shwechinthae Farmers Network
169. Shwe Bo- Sagaing
170. Mar Ya Ja Organization
171. Myitkyina-Kachin
172. Bommazayya Social Development Asdociation
173. Green Light Organization
174. MATA (Mon)
175. Mon State CSOs Network
176. Local Development Network (Mon)
177. MATA (Shan)
178. Pyoe Khinn Thit Foundation (Maubin)
179. Mon State CSOs’ Network
180. Ye Social Society
181. BOBOWIN EMERGENCY RESCUE SERVICE
182. Mawlamyine Natural Disaster prevention and rescue organization (Mon state)
183. Bee Lin – Win Ka Village Ambulance association (Mon state)
184. Ka Mar Sai Social support organization (Mon state)
185. Mon state youth network
186. Mawlamyine youth association
187. Mawlamyine youth network
188. Future Light Youth (Mon state)
189. Nate Ban Shwe Pyi Youth Social association, Ka Tike Kye Village, Thahton (Mon state)
190. Bilin CSOs’network
191. Kan Let Youth Social organization – Kin Mon Chaung Village. Kyeikhto (Mon state)
192. Karen Peace Support Network
193. Farmers Network (Matehtilar District; Matehtilar, Tharsi, Wan Twin)

European and other Organisations :

1. The Association Suisse-Birmanie
2. Free Burma Campaign (South Africa) (FBC(SA))
3. Burma Link
4. U.S campaign for Burma
5. Progressive Voice
6. Swedish Burma Committee
7. Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)
8. Society for Threatened Peoples
9. Seattle2Brussels network (S2B):
10. War on Want
11. Ecologistas en Acción (Spain)
12. Secours Catholique – Caritas France
13. Both ENDS
14. AITEC
15. Info Birmanie
16. Transnational Institute (TNI)

 i In 2010, the European Commission interviewed 300 European companies about the relevance of the treaties, and find out that only 10% had a working knowledge of investment treaties, 40% had some general awareness and 50% had no knowledge at all. European Commission, Survey of the Attitudes of the European Business Community to International Investment Rules, TN Sofres Consulting on behalf of European Commission DG Trade, 2000 http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/html/111125.htm andhttp://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/html/111127.htmIn another survey of American multinationals (among Fortune 500), “the responses indicate a low level of familiarity with BITs, a pessimistic view of their ability to protect against adverse host state actions, and a low level of influence over FDI decisions” J Yackee (2011) Do Bilateral Investment Treaties Promote Foreign Direct Investment?, 51 Virginia J Int’l Law, p429 http://ssrn.com/abstract=1594887.
 ii ‘UN Independent Expert Alfred de Zayas recommends abolishing current ISDS regime’, in: Investment Treaty News, International Istitute for Sustainable Development (IISD), November 26, 2015. https://www.iisd.org/itn/2015/11/26/un-independent-expert-alfred-de-zaya…
 iii Seattle2Brussels network (S2B) is a Europe-wide network of over 60 development, environment, human rights, women and farmers organisations, trade unions, social movements as well as research institutes.