Archived press release

Survey reveals public fears over investment treaty

21 April 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:

• 90 per cent said they had never heard of the MAI,
• 86 per cent supported a year's delay to allow public consultation,
• And of the 1367 respondents who expressed an opinion, almost 78 per cent said the UK should never sign up.

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.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust