Tuesday 15th May 2008, 3-5:30pm, Herbert Smith LLP

The focus of the seminar was the practical question of how civil society organisations can influence international investment agreement disputes and act as a friend of the court. The seminar was delivered by leading experts in this area and a number of A4ID's development partners took part.

In July 2007 A4ID representatives organised and participated in an EPA roundtable with trade policy representatives to examine the current position of Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries in trade talks with the EU Commission. The session focused on the status of EPA negotiations and the realistic trading options that are available to ACP countries from 2008 onwards. Participants discussed the latest EU offer in terms of market access and ACP trade liberalisation, various issues relating to the modalities of EPAs and interpretive issues relating to the Cotonou Framework Agreement between the ACP and the EU. The session also included a discussion and review of feasible alternatives to EPAs in comparison to some of the alternatives under discussion by the various regions and participants in EPA negotiations.

Over the next 18 months, legal experts provided though A4ID and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) will contribute to a new global training programme created and managed by local organisations together with the Geneva based International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL). The course is aimed at developing country government lawyers and officials involved in the negotiation of and dispute resolution under international investment agreements.  Programmes will be held on a regional basis in South America, Africa and Asia working with local NGOs.