Home > Press releases > 1998
21 Apr 1998
Government urged to abandon MAI discussions
A new survey by Friends of the Earth and the Green Party [1] has revealed
widespread public concern over plans to allow multinational companies
and foreign investors to challenge environmental regulations and planning
decisions under the little publicized Multilateral Agreement on Investment
(MAI). Most of those surveyed had never heard of the MAI, and over three
quarters of those who expressed an opinion said that the UK should never
sign up. Ministers are meeting next week in Paris to continue their
negotiations on the MAI [2].
The MAI will allow foreign corporations to insist on the same treatment
as national and local companies without enabling national governments
to impose conditions on them, such as requiring companies to take on
local partners or hire local people. Furthermore,multinational corporations
will be able to challenge health, safety and environmental rules as
barriers to investment in special international courts. The MAI, although
intended as a global agreement, has been negotiated in closed meetings
among the industrialized OECD countries [3].
The survey, conducted in April by over 40 local groups, asked more than
2000 people what they thought about the MAI:
Tony Juniper, Campaigns Director of Friends of the Earth said:“This
confirms that opposition to the MAI goes far beyond environmental and
other campaign groups and that the government is completely ignoring
public opinion. The Government should now tell the OECD Ministers' meeting
that the UK can not move ahead with the MAI and should urge other governments
to call a halt to the negotiations. The lack of public consultation
is completely unacceptable.”
Mike Woodin, Principal Speaker of the Green Party said: “This
treaty has been negotiated in such secrecy that until recently most
MPs and even newspaper editors were ignorant of it. This survey clearly
showed that once people were made aware of the profound implications
of the MAI, they overwhelmingly opposed an early endorsement of it.
A recent debate in the European Parliament came to the same conclusion.
Should the governments proceed with their plans to sign the treaty they
will be making a mockery of democracy.”
The MAI faces widespread worldwide opposition, including over 500 environmental,consumer
and other organization, which has already delayed the planned completion
of the MAI this year. However, at a recent meeting, OECD negotiators
decided to continue, with the next negotiating session taking place
in July.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] The survey took place between 4-11 April in several regions. 41
Friends of the Earth and Green Party groups interviewed 2170 people,
using a set of four questions.
[2] The OECD Council Meeting at Ministerial Level takes place in Paris
from 27-28 April.
[3] Negotiations on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment began
in 1995. They involve the 29 OECD member countries, with some developing
countries attending meetings as observers.
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
