Seventh Inter-sessional Meeting

7 to 8 March 2024

The 7th intersessional meeting of UNCITRAL Working Group III will be held at the Egmont Palace in Brussels, Belgium on 7 and 8 March 2024. It will focus on the ISDS-reform options being discussed this year, namely the standing mechanism, the advisory centre and certain procedural rules and cross-cutting issues, and how they can contribute to a better access to justice for all. This event is jointly organized by the Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2024, the UNCITRAL Secretariat and supported by the European Commission.

A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.242 - Summary of the inter-sessional meeting on investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) reform submitted by the Government of Belgium (Advance copy)

Programme

Dedicated website

Presentations Day 1 Panel IV - Procedural rules reform:

• Présentation de la RDC
• ICSID Perspective

Presentations Day 2 UNCITRAL Side-event - Models for the MIIR:

• The Mauritius Convention 
• The BEPS MLI
• The 'UNFCCC' Model 

Key documents for the roundtable discussions on Day 2:

• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.238 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft statute of an advisory centre on international investment dispute resolution
• Revised draft of A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.235 (Draft guidelines on prevention and mitigation of international investment disputes) / mark-up version
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.231 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft provisions on procedural and cross-cutting issues
• A/CN.9/1161 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its forty-seventh session (Vienna, 22-26 January 2024)
• UNCITRAL Secretariat Presentation - Way forward on the draft provisions on procedural and cross cutting issues

Reference documents:

• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.232 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Annotations to the draft provisions on procedural and cross-cutting issues
  • Compilation of IIA Provisions and Arbitration Rules Related to Procedural and Cross-Cutting Issues (unofficial document, English only)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.233 - Summary of the inter-sessional meeting on investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) reform submitted by the Government of Singapore
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.235 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft guidelines on prevention and mitigation of international investment disputes
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.236 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft statute of an advisory centre
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.238 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft statute of an advisory centre on international investment dispute resolution
  • Budget and financing of an advisory centre – A sample (unofficial document, English only)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.239 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft statute of a standing mechanism for the resolution of international investment disputes
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.240 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Annotations to the draft statute of a standing mechanism for the resolution of international investment disputes

Comments:

• Poland's comments on revised draft A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.235

Some practical aspects:

• Meeting format: The meeting will take place in hybrid format. Remote participation for delegates and observers is possible.
• Interpretation: Simultaneous interpretation between English and French will be provided.
• Accommodation and travel costs: These are the responsibility of the delegations, and pre-reservations are not arranged. To reserve a hotel near the event venue (Egmont Palace, Brussels), a dedicated hotel tool  is offering reduced prices.

If you have any queries regarding the administrative arrangements for the 7th intersessional meeting, please contact Trade-Events@diplobel.fed.be.