Discussions by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation with European and non-European countries to terminate bilateral investment treaties without automatic renewal clauses and their terminal dates
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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO: 2958 (NW3509E)
PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO: 35-2013 OF 25 OCTOBER 2013
MR L NGONYAMA (COPE-MP) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION:
Whether her Department is holding discussions with (a) European and (b) non-European countries to terminate those bilateral investment treaties (a) without automatic renewal clauses and (b) have reached their terminal dates; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? 3509
REPLY:
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has been working with the lead department, the Department of Trade and Industry, on this issue.
Yes, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation has held discussions with the following European countries (a) whose agreements are without automatic renewal clauses: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland and Austria; and (b) with the following European countries whose agreements have reached their termination dates: the Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy and Greece; and has given notice of termination of the Bilateral Investment Treaties with the countries listed under (a) and (b).
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has not held discussions with non-European countries on the termination of their Bilateral Investment Treaties, although some have already been engaged on the issue by the Department of Trade and Industry, the lead department, including South Korea, Argentina and Mauritius.
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