AFP, Brussels :
The European Union could drop investment from major free trade deals in an effort to ease ratification, a top EU official said on Monday as Brussels is set to begin talks on the issue with Japan.
European Commission vice president Jyrki Katainen spoke just days after EU and Japan formally agreed the broad outlines of a landmark trade deal but with the highly sensitive investment portion still left unresolved.
“We have to discuss with (EU) member states on this issue but I wouldn’t be surprised if they agree,” said Katainen, who oversees investment issues at the EU executive.
“Let’s keep free trade agreements as they are … and then investment-related issues could be seen, or must be seen … separate from trade deals,” the former Finnish premier said in response to a question by AFP.
Japan and the EU are still very far apart on investment and so-called investment courts, a controversial mechanism usually included in trade deals to resolve disputes.
This mechanism has come under furious opposition in Europe and the EU is trying-so far unsuccessfully-to persuade international partners to adopt a new system staffed by public as opposed to private sector officials.
A publically run system as desired by Brussels “will take some time” even if it is the “good sustainable solution”, Katainen said.
