REGULATION (EU) No 912/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 23 July 2014
establishing a framework for managing financial responsibility linked to investor-to-state dispute settlement tribunals established by international agreements to which the European Union is party
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (1),
Whereas:
(1)
With the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon foreign direct investment is included in the list of matters falling under the common commercial policy. In accordance with point (e) of Article 3(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the Union has exclusive competence with respect to the common commercial policy and may be a party to international agreements covering provisions on foreign direct investment.
(2)
Agreements providing for investment protection may include an investor-to-state dispute settlement mechanism, which allows an investor from a third country to bring a claim against a state in which it has made an investment. Investor-to-state dispute settlement can result in awards for monetary compensation. Furthermore, significant costs for administering the arbitration as well as costs relating to the defence of a case will inevitably be incurred in any such case.
(3)
International responsibility for treatment subject to dispute settlement follows the division of competences between the Union and the Member States. As a consequence, the Union will in principle be responsible for defending any claims alleging a violation of rules included in an agreement which fall within the Union’s exclusive competence, irrespective of whether the treatment at issue is afforded by the Union itself or by a Member State.
(4)
Union agreements should afford foreign investors the same high level of protection as Union law and the general principles common to the laws of the Member States grant to investors from within the Union, but not a higher level of protection. Union agreements should ensure that the Union’s legislative powers and right to regulate are respected and safeguarded.
(5)
Where the Union, as an entity having legal personality, has international responsibility for the treatment afforded, it will be expected, as a matter of international law, to pay any adverse award and bear the costs of any dispute. However, an adverse award may potentially flow either from treatment afforded by the Union itself or from treatment afforded by a Member State. It would as a consequence be inequitable if awards and the costs of arbitration were to be paid from the budget of the Union where the treatment was afforded by a Member State, unless the treatment in question is required by Union law. It is therefore necessary that financial responsibility be allocated, as a matter of Union law, between the Union itself and the Member State responsible for the treatment afforded on the basis of criteria established by this Regulation.
(6)
In its resolution of 6 April 2011 on the future European international investment policy, the European Parliament explicitly called for the creation of the mechanism provided for in this Regulation. Furthermore, in its Conclusions of 25 October 2010 on a Comprehensive international investment policy, the Council requested the Commission to study the matter.
(7)
Financial responsibility should be allocated to the entity responsible for the treatment found to be inconsistent with the relevant provisions of the agreement. Therefore the Union itself should bear the financial responsibility where the treatment concerned is afforded by an institution, body, office or agency of the Union. The Member State concerned should bear the financial responsibility where the treatment concerned is afforded by that Member State. However, where the Member State acts in a manner required by Union law, for example in transposing a directive adopted by the Union, the Union itself should bear financial responsibility in so far as the treatment concerned is required by Union law. This Regulation should also provide for the possibility that individual cases concern both treatment afforded by a Member State and treatment required by Union law and should cover all actions taken by Member States and by the Union. In such cases, the Member States and the Union should bear financial responsibility for the specific treatment afforded by either of them.
(8)
The Union should always act as the respondent where a dispute exclusively concerns treatment afforded by the institutions, bodies, offices or agencies of the Union, so that the Union bears the potential financial responsibility arising from the dispute in accordance with the above criteria.
(9)
Where a Member State would bear the potential financial responsibility arising from a dispute, it is equitable and appropriate that such Member State acts as a respondent in order to defend the treatment which it has afforded to the investor. The arrangements laid down in this Regulation are aimed at ensuring that the budget of the Union and Union non-financial resources are not burdened, even temporarily, by either the costs of litigation or any award made against the Member State concerned.
(10)
Member States may, nevertheless, prefer that the Union act as the respondent in this type of dispute, for example for reasons of technical expertise. Member States should, therefore, have the possibility to decline to act as the respondent, without prejudice to their financial responsibility.
(11)
In order to ensure that the interests of the Union can be appropriately safeguarded, it is essential that, in exceptional circumstances, the Union itself act as the respondent in disputes involving treatment afforded by a Member State. Those circumstances are limited to cases where the dispute also involves treatment afforded by the Union, where it appears that the treatment afforded by a Member State is required by Union law and where similar treatment is being challenged in a related claim against the Union in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), where a panel has been established and the claim concerns the same specific legal issue and where it is necessary to ensure a consistent argumentation in the WTO case.
(12)
Where the Union acts as the respondent in cases involving Member State measures, the Commission should conduct its defence in a manner which protects the financial interests of the Member State concerned.
(13)
Decisions on whether the Union or a Member State should act as the respondent should be taken within the framework laid down in this Regulation. It is appropriate that the Commission immediately informs the European Parliament and the Council about the manner in which this framework is applied.
(14)
This Regulation should provide for some practical arrangements for the conduct of arbitration proceedings in disputes concerning treatment afforded by a Member State. Those arrangements should aim for the best possible management of the dispute whilst ensuring compliance with the duty of sincere cooperation referred to in Article 4(3) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the defence and protection of the interests of the Member State concerned.
(15)
Where the Union acts as the respondent such arrangements should provide for very close cooperation including the prompt notification of any significant procedural steps, the provision of relevant documents, frequent consultations and participation in the delegation to the proceedings.
(16)
Where a Member State acts as the respondent, it is appropriate that, in accordance with the duty of sincere cooperation referred to in Article 4(3) of the TEU, it keeps the Commission informed of developments in the case and in particular ensures timely information of any significant procedural steps, the provision of relevant documents, frequent consultations and participation in the delegation to the proceedings. It is also appropriate that the Commission is provided with adequate opportunity to identify any point of law or any other element of Union interest raised by the dispute.
(17)
Without prejudice to the outcome of the arbitration proceedings, a Member State should be able at any time to accept that it would be financially responsible in the event that compensation is to be paid. In such a case, the Member State and the Commission should be able to enter into arrangements for the periodic payment of costs and for the payment of any compensation. Such acceptance does not imply that the Member State accepts that the claim under dispute is well founded. The Commission should be able in such a case to adopt a decision requiring the Member State to make provision for such costs. In the event that the tribunal awards costs to the Union, the Commission should ensure that any advance payment of costs is immediately reimbursed to the Member State concerned.
(18)
In some cases, it may be appropriate to reach a settlement in order to avoid costly and unnecessary arbitration. It is necessary to lay down a procedure for making such settlements. Such a procedure should permit the Commission, acting in accordance with the examination procedure, to settle a case involving the financial responsibility of the Union, where this would be in the interests of the Union. Where the case also concerns treatment afforded by a Member State, it is appropriate that the Union would only be able to settle a dispute if the settlement would not have any financial or budgetary implications for the Member State concerned. In such cases, it is appropriate that there should be close cooperation and consultations between the Commission and the Member State concerned. The Member State should remain free to settle the case at all times, provided that it accepts full financial responsibility and that any such settlement is consistent with Union law.
(19)
Where an award has been rendered against the Union, that award should be paid without delay. The Commission should make arrangements for the payment of such awards, unless a Member State has already accepted financial responsibility.
(20)
The Commission should consult closely with the Member State concerned in order to reach agreement on the apportionment of financial responsibility. Where the Commission determines that a Member State is responsible, and the Member State does not accept that determination, the Commission should pay the award, but should also address a decision to the Member State requesting it to provide the amounts concerned to the budget of the Union, together with applicable interest. The interest payable should be that laid down pursuant to Article 78(4) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2). Article 263 TFEU is available in cases where a Member State considers that the decision falls short of the criteria set out in this Regulation.
(21)
The budget of the Union should provide coverage of the expenditure resulting from agreements covering provisions on foreign direct investment to which the Union is a party and which provide for investor-to-state dispute settlement. Where Member States have financial responsibility pursuant to this Regulation, the Union should be able to either accumulate the contributions of the Member State concerned first before implementing the relevant expenditure or implement the relevant expenditure first and be reimbursed by the Member State concerned after. Use of both of these mechanisms of budgetary treatment should be possible, depending on what is feasible, in particular in terms of timing. For both mechanisms, the contributions or reimbursements paid by the Member State concerned should be treated as internal assigned revenue of the budget of the Union. The appropriations arising from this internal assigned revenue should not only cover the relevant expenditure but they should also be eligible for replenishment of other parts of the budget of the Union which provided the initial appropriations to implement the relevant expenditure under the second mechanism.
(22)
In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission.
(23)
The implementing powers relating to Article 9(2) and (3), Article 13(1), Article 14(8), Article 15(3) and Article 16(3) should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3).
(24)
The advisory procedure should be used for the adoption of decisions providing that the Union act as the respondent pursuant to Article 9(2), given that it is necessary for the Union to take over the defence in such cases, but that this should still be subject to control by the Member States. The advisory procedure should be used for the adoption of decisions on settlement of disputes pursuant to Article 15(3) given that those decisions will have at most a merely temporary impact on the budget of the Union, since the Member State concerned will be required to assume any financial responsibility arising from the dispute, and because of the detailed criteria laid down in this Regulation for acceptability of such settlements,
HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1
Scope
1. Without prejudice to the division of competences established by the TFEU, this Regulation applies to investor-to-state dispute settlement conducted pursuant to an agreement to which the Union is party, or the Union and its Member States are parties, and initiated by a claimant of a third country. In particular, the adoption and application of this Regulation shall not affect the delimitation of competences established by the Treaties, including in relation to the treatment afforded by the Member States or the Union and challenged by a claimant in investor-to-state dispute settlement conducted pursuant to an agreement.
2. For information purposes, the Commission shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Union and keep up to date a list of the agreements falling within the scope of this Regulation.
Article 2
Definitions
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:
(a)
‘agreement’ means any international agreement covering provisions on foreign direct investment to which the Union is party, or the Union and its Member States are parties, and which provides for investor-to-state dispute settlement;
(b)
‘costs arising from the arbitration’ means the fees and costs of the arbitration tribunal and the arbitration institution, and the costs of representation and expenses awarded to the claimant by the arbitration tribunal, such as costs of translation, costs of legal and economic analysis and other relevant costs with respect to the arbitration proceedings;
(c)
‘dispute’ means a claim brought by a claimant against the Union or a Member State pursuant to an agreement and on which an arbitration tribunal will rule;
(d)
‘investor-to-state dispute settlement’ means a mechanism provided for by an agreement by which a claimant may initiate claims against the Union or a Member State;
(e)
‘Member State’ means one or more Member States of the European Union;
(f)
‘Member State concerned’ means the Member State which has afforded the treatment alleged to be inconsistent with the agreement;
(g)
‘financial responsibility’ means an obligation to pay a sum of money awarded by an arbitration tribunal or agreed as part of a settlement and including the costs arising from the arbitration;
(h)
‘settlement’ means any agreement between the Union or a Member State, or both, of the one part, and a claimant, of the other, whereby the claimant agrees not to pursue its claims in exchange for the payment of a sum of money or action other than the payment of money, including where the settlement is recorded in an award of an arbitration tribunal;
(i)
‘arbitration tribunal’ means any person or body designated under an agreement to rule on an investor-to-state dispute;
(j)
‘claimant’ means any natural or legal person which may bring a claim to investor-to-state dispute settlement pursuant to an agreement or any natural or legal person to whom the claims of the claimant under the agreement have been lawfully assigned;
(k)
‘Union law’ means the TFEU and the TEU, as well as any legal acts of the Union referred to in the second, third and fourth paragraphs of Article 288 TFEU and any international agreements to which the Union is party or the Union and its Member States are parties; for the sole purposes of this Regulation ‘Union law’ shall not mean the investment protection provisions in the agreement;
(l)
‘required by Union law’ refers to treatment where the Member State concerned could only have avoided the alleged breach of the agreement by disregarding an obligation under Union law such as where it has no discretion or margin of appreciation as to the result to be achieved.
CHAPTER II
APPORTIONMENT OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Article 3
Apportionment criteria
1. Financial responsibility arising from a dispute under an agreement shall be apportioned in accordance with the following criteria:
(a)
the Union shall bear the financial responsibility arising from treatment afforded by the institutions, bodies, offices or agencies of the Union;
(b)
the Member State concerned shall bear the financial responsibility arising from treatment afforded by that Member State;
(c)
by way of exception to point (b), the Union shall bear the financial responsibility arising from treatment afforded by a Member State where such treatment was required by Union law.
Notwithstanding point (c) of the first subparagraph, where the Member State concerned is required to act pursuant to Union law in order to remedy the inconsistency with Union law of a prior act, that Member State shall be financially responsible unless such prior act was required by Union law.
2. Where provided for in this Regulation, the Commission shall adopt a decision determining the financial responsibility of the Member State concerned in accordance with the criteria laid down in paragraph 1. The European Parliament and the Council shall be informed of such a decision.
3. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Article, the Member State concerned shall bear the financial responsibility where:
(a)
it has accepted potential financial responsibility pursuant to Article 12; or
(b)
it enters into a settlement, pursuant to Article 15.
4. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Article, the Union shall bear the financial responsibility where the Union acts as the respondent pursuant to Article 4.
CHAPTER III
CONDUCT OF DISPUTES
SECTION 1
conduct of disputes concerning treatment afforded by the union
Article 4
Treatment afforded by the Union
1. The Union shall act as the respondent where the dispute concerns treatment afforded by the institutions, bodies, offices or agencies of the Union.
2. Where the Commission receives a request for consultations from a claimant or a notice by which a claimant states its intention to initiate arbitration proceedings in accordance with an agreement, it shall immediately notify the European Parliament and the Council.
SECTION 2
conduct of disputes concerning treatment afforded by a Member State
Article 5
Treatment afforded by a Member State
This Section shall apply in disputes concerning, fully or partially, treatment afforded by a Member State.
Article 6
Cooperation and consultations between the Commission and the Member State concerned
1. In accordance with the principle of sincere cooperation referred to in Article 4(3) TEU, the Commission and the Member State concerned shall take all necessary steps to defend and protect the interests of the Union and of the Member State concerned.
2. The Commission and the Member State concerned shall enter into consultations on the management of disputes pursuant to this Regulation, bearing in mind any deadlines laid down in this Regulation and in the agreement concerned, and shall share with each other information where relevant to the conduct of disputes.
Article 7
Request for consultations
1. Where the Commission receives a request for consultations from a claimant in accordance with an agreement, it shall immediately notify the Member State concerned. Where a Member State has been made aware of or has received a request for consultations, it shall immediately inform the Commission.
2. Representatives of the Member State concerned and of the Commission shall form part of the Union’s delegation to the consultations.
3. The Member State concerned and the Commission shall immediately provide to each other relevant information for the case.
4. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament and the Council of any such requests for consultations.
Article 8
Notice of intention to initiate arbitration proceedings
1. Where the Commission receives notice by which a claimant states its intention to initiate arbitration proceedings, in accordance with an agreement, it shall immediately notify the Member State concerned. When a claimant states its intention to initiate arbitration proceedings against the Union or a Member State, the Commission shall inform the European Parliament and the Council, within 15 working days of receiving the notice, of the name of the claimant, the provisions of the agreement alleged to have been breached, the economic sector involved, the treatment alleged to be in breach of the agreement and the amount of damages claimed.
2. Where a Member State receives notice by which a claimant states its intention to initiate arbitration proceedings, it shall immediately notify the Commission.
3. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament and the Council of any such notices of intention to initiate arbitration proceedings.
Article 9
Respondent status
1. The Member State concerned shall act as the respondent except where either of the following situations arise:
(a)
the Commission, following consultations pursuant to Article 6, has taken a decision pursuant to paragraph 2 or 3 of this Article within 45 days of receiving the notice or notification referred to in Article 8; or
(b)
the Member State, following consultations pursuant to Article 6, has confirmed to the Commission in writing that it does not intend to act as the respondent within 45 days of receiving the notice or notification referred to in Article 8.
If either of the situations referred to in point (a) or (b) arise, the Union shall act as the respondent.
2. The Commission may decide by means of implementing acts, based on a full and balanced factual analysis and legal reasoning provided to the Member States, in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 22(2), that the Union is to act as the respondent where one or more of the following circumstances arise:
(a)
the Union would bear all or at least part of the potential financial responsibility arising from the dispute in accordance with the criteria laid down in Article 3; or
(b)
the dispute also concerns treatment afforded by the institutions, bodies, offices or agencies of the Union.
3. The Commission may decide by means of implementing acts, based on a full and balanced factual analysis and legal reasoning provided to the Member States in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 22(3), that the Union is to act as the respondent where similar treatment is being challenged in a related claim against the Union in the WTO, where a panel has been established and the claim concerns the same specific legal issue, and where it is necessary to ensure a consistent argumentation in the WTO case.
4. In acting pursuant to this Article, the Commission shall ensure that the Union’s defence protects the financial interests of the Member State concerned.
5. The Commission and the Member State concerned shall immediately after receiving the notice or notification referred to in Article 8 enter into consultations pursuant to Article 6 on the management of the case pursuant to this Article. The Commission and the Member State concerned shall ensure that any deadlines set down in the agreement are respected.
6. When the Union acts as the respondent in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 5, the Commission shall consult the Member State concerned on any pleading or observation prior to the finalisation and submission thereof. Representatives of the Member State concerned shall, at the Member State’s request and at its expense, form part of the Union’s delegation to any hearing and the Commission shall take due account of the Member State’s interest.
7. The Commission shall immediately inform the European Parliament and the Council of any dispute in which this Article is applied and the manner in which it has been applied.
Article 10
Conduct of arbitration proceedings by a Member State
1. Where a Member State acts as the respondent, in all phases of the dispute, including possible annulment, appeal or review, the Member State pursuant to Article 6 shall:
(a)
provide the Commission in a timely manner with relevant documents relating to the proceeding;
(b)
inform the Commission in a timely manner of all significant procedural steps, and upon request enter into consultations with the Commission with a view to taking into due consideration any point of law or any other element of Union interest raised by the dispute and identified by the Commission in a non-binding written analysis provided to the Member State concerned; and
(c)
permit representatives of the Commission, at its request and its own expense to form part of the delegation representing the Member State.
2. The Commission shall provide the Member State with relevant documents relating to the proceedings, so as to ensure as effective a defence as possible.
3. As soon as an award is rendered, the Member State shall inform the Commission. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament and the Council.
Article 11
Conduct of arbitration proceedings by the Union
1. Pursuant to Article 6, the following provisions shall apply throughout arbitration proceedings, where the Union acts as the respondent in any disputes in which a Member State would be liable to bear all or part of the potential financial responsibility:
(a)
the Commission shall take all necessary measures to defend and protect the interests of the Member State concerned;
(b)
the Member State concerned shall provide all necessary assistance to the Commission;
(c)
the Commission shall provide the Member State concerned with relevant documents relating to the proceeding, keep the Member State informed of all significant procedural steps and enter into consultations with the Member State in any event when requested by the Member State concerned, so as to ensure as effective a defence as possible;
(d)
the Commission and the Member State concerned shall prepare the defence in close cooperation with each other; and,
(e)
the Union’s delegation to the proceedings shall comprise the Commission and representatives of the Member State concerned, unless the Member State concerned informs the Commission that it intends not to form part of the Union’s delegation to the proceedings.
2. The Commission shall regularly inform the European Parliament and the Council of developments in the arbitration proceedings referred to in paragraph 1.
Article 12
Acceptance by the Member State concerned of potential financial responsibility where the Union is the respondent
Where the Union acts as the respondent in any disputes in which a Member State would be liable to bear all or part of the potential financial responsibility, the Member State concerned may, at any time, accept any potential financial responsibility arising from the arbitration. To this end, the Member State concerned and the Commission may enter into arrangements dealing with, inter alia:
(a)
mechanisms for the periodic payment of costs arising from the arbitration;
(b)
mechanisms for the payment of any awards made against the Union.
CHAPTER IV
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES WHERE THE UNION IS THE RESPONDENT
Article 13
Settlement of disputes concerning treatment afforded by the Union
1. If the Commission considers that a settlement of a dispute concerning treatment exclusively afforded by the Union would be in the interests of the Union, it may adopt an implementing act to approve the settlement. That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 22(3).
2. Should a settlement potentially involve action other than the payment of a monetary sum, the relevant procedures for such action shall apply.
Article 14
Settlement of disputes concerning treatment afforded in full or in part by a Member State where the Union wishes to settle
1. Where the Union is the respondent in a dispute concerning treatment afforded, whether fully or in part, by a Member State, and the Commission considers that the settlement of the dispute would be in the financial interests of the Union, the Commission shall first consult with the Member State concerned pursuant to Article 6. The Member State may also initiate such consultations with the Commission.
2. If the Commission and the Member State concerned agree to settle the dispute, the Member State concerned shall endeavour to enter into an arrangement with the Commission setting out the necessary elements for the negotiation and implementation of the settlement.
3. Where the Union is the respondent in a dispute pursuant to which a Member State would incur financial responsibility and where no Union financial responsibility is involved, only the Member State concerned may settle the dispute, pursuant to Article 15.
4. Where the Union is the respondent pursuant to point (b) of Article 9(1), the Commission may, following consultations pursuant to Article 6(1), decide to settle the dispute where the settlement is in the financial interests of the Union. In so deciding, the Commission shall provide a full and balanced factual analysis and legal reasoning demonstrating the financial interests of the Union.
5. Where the Union is the respondent in a dispute pursuant to Article 9(2) which solely involves the financial responsibility of the Union and where no Member State financial responsibility is involved, the Commission may decide to settle the dispute.
6. Where the Union is the respondent in a dispute pursuant to Article 9(2) which involves the financial responsibility of the Union and of a Member State, the Commission may not settle the dispute without the agreement of the Member State concerned. The Member State concerned may submit a full analysis of the impact of the proposed settlement on its financial interests. Where the Member State does not agree to settle the dispute, the Commission may nonetheless decide to settle provided that such settlement does not have any financial or budgetary implications for the Member State concerned on the basis of a full and balanced factual analysis and legal reasoning, taking account of the Member State’s analysis and demonstrating the financial interests of the Union and of the Member State concerned. In that case Article 19 shall not apply.
7. The terms of settlement under paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 shall not include actions on the part of the Member State concerned other than the payment of a monetary sum.
8. Any settlements under this Article shall be subject to approval by means of implementing acts. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 22(3).
Article 15
Settlement of disputes concerning treatment afforded exclusively by a Member State where the Member State wishes to settle
1. Where the Union is the respondent in a dispute exclusively concerning treatment afforded by a Member State, the Member State concerned may propose to settle a dispute where:
(a)
the Member State concerned accepts any potential financial responsibility arising from the settlement;
(b)
any settlement arrangement is enforceable only against the Member State concerned; and
(c)
the terms of the settlement are compatible with Union law.
2. The Commission and the Member State concerned shall enter into consultations to evaluate a Member State’s intention to settle a dispute.
3. The Member State concerned shall notify the Commission of the draft settlement arrangement. The Commission shall be deemed to have accepted the draft settlement arrangement unless, within 90 days following the notification of the draft settlement by the Member State, it decides otherwise by means of an implementing act adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 22(2), on the grounds that the draft settlement does not meet all of the conditions set out in paragraph 1 of this Article. When the draft settlement is accepted, the Commission shall take all necessary steps to make the settlement arrangements effective.
Article 16
Settlement of disputes concerning treatment afforded in part by a Member State where that Member State wishes to settle
1. Where the Union is the respondent in a dispute concerning treatment afforded in part by a Member State, and the Member State considers that the settlement of the dispute would be in its financial interest, it shall first consult with the Commission pursuant to Article 6.
2. If the Commission and the Member State concerned agree to settle the dispute, the Member State concerned shall endeavour to enter into an arrangement with the Commission setting out the necessary elements for the negotiation and implementation of the settlement.
3. In the event that the Commission does not consent to the settlement of the dispute, the Commission may decide to refuse to settle, based on a full and balanced factual analysis and legal reasoning provided to Member States, by means of an implementing act. That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 22(3).
CHAPTER V
PAYMENT OF FINAL AWARDS OR SETTLEMENTS
Article 17
Scope
This Chapter shall apply where the Union acts as the respondent in a dispute.
Article 18
Procedure for the payment of awards or settlements
1. A claimant having obtained a final award pursuant to an agreement may present a request to the Commission for payment of that award. The Commission shall pay any such award, except where the Member State concerned has accepted financial responsibility pursuant to Article 12, in which case the Member State shall pay the award.
2. Where a settlement pursuant to Article 13 or 14 is not recorded in an award, a claimant may present a request to the Commission for payment of the settlement. The Commission shall pay any such settlement within any relevant time periods set down in the settlement agreement.
Article 19
Procedure where there is no agreement as to financial responsibility
1. Where the Union acts as the respondent pursuant to Article 9, and the Commission considers that the award or settlement or costs arising from the arbitration in question should be paid, in part or in full, by the Member State concerned on the basis of the criteria laid down in Article 3(1), the procedure set out in paragraphs 2 to 5 of this Article shall apply.
2. The Commission and the Member State concerned shall immediately enter into consultations to seek agreement on the financial responsibility of the Member State concerned, and the Union where applicable.
3. Within three months of receipt by the Commission of the request for payment of the award or settlement or costs arising from the arbitration, the Commission shall adopt a decision addressed to the Member State concerned, determining the amount to be paid by that Member State. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament and the Council of such decision and its financial reasoning.
4. Unless the Member State concerned objects to the Commission’s determination within two months of the entry into force of the decision referred to in paragraph 3, the Member State concerned shall compensate the budget of the Union for the payment of the award or settlement or costs arising from the arbitration within six months of the entry into force of the Commission’s decision. The Member State concerned shall be liable for any interest due at the rate applicable to other monies owed to the budget of the Union.
5. If the Member State concerned objects and the Commission disagrees with the Member State’s objection, the Commission shall adopt a decision within six months of receipt of the Member State’s objection, requiring the Member State concerned to reimburse the amount paid by the Commission, together with interest at the rate applicable to other monies owed to the budget of the Union.
6. The Commission’s decisions pursuant to paragraphs 3 and 5 shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Article 20
Advance payment of costs arising from the arbitration
1. The Commission may adopt a decision requiring the Member State concerned to advance financial contributions to the budget of the Union in respect of foreseeable or incurred costs arising from the arbitration. Such a decision on financial contributions shall be proportionate, taking into account the criteria set down in Article 3.
2. To the extent that the costs arising from the arbitration are awarded to the Union by the arbitration tribunal, and the Member State concerned has made periodic payment of costs arising from the arbitration, the Commission shall ensure that they are transferred to the Member State which has paid them in advance, together with interest at the rate applicable to other monies owed to the budget of the Union.
Article 21
Payment by a Member State
A Member State’s reimbursement or payment to the budget of the Union, for the payment of an award or a settlement or costs arising from the arbitration, including those referred to in Article 20(1) of this Regulation, shall be considered as internal assigned revenue in the sense of Article 21(4) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012. It may be used to cover expenditure resulting from agreements concluded pursuant to Article 218 TFEU providing for investor-to-state dispute settlement or to replenish appropriations initially provided to cover the payment of an award or a settlement or costs arising from the arbitration.
CHAPTER VI
FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 22
Committee procedure
1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee for Investment Agreements established by Regulation (EU) No 1219/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4). That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.
2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.
3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.
Article 23
Report and review
1. The Commission shall submit a detailed report on the operation of this Regulation to the European Parliament and to the Council at regular intervals. That report shall contain all relevant information including the listing of the claims made against the Union or the Member States, related proceedings and rulings, and the financial impact on the budget of the Union. The first report shall be submitted by 18 September 2019. Subsequent reports shall be submitted every three years thereafter.
2. The Commission shall annually submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a list of requests for consultations from claimants, claims and arbitration rulings.
3. The Commission may also submit, together with the report referred to in paragraph 1 and based on the Commission’s findings, a proposal to the European Parliament and to the Council for the amendment of this Regulation.
Article 24
Disputes under agreements concluded before the entry into force of this Regulation
With regard to disputes under agreements covered under Article 1 and concluded before 17 September 2014, this Regulation shall apply only in respect of disputes where the submission of a claim to arbitration has been lodged after 17 September 2014, and that concern treatment afforded after 17 September 2014.
Article 25
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 23 July 2014.