Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
These considerations and approaches are embodied in Annex 2 to the Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises, adopted by the Governments of the OECD Member countries in 1976. They were adopted with the aim of avoiding or minimising the imposition of conflicting requirements on multinational enterprises by governments. In view of this objective, the OECD Council has adopted a procedural decision seeking to promote co-operation among Member countries
1. In contemplating new legislation, action under existing legislation or other exercise of jurisdiction which may conflict with the legal requirements or established policies of another Member country and lead to conflicting requirements being imposed on multinational enterprises, the Member countries concerned should:
a) Have regard to relevant principles of international law;
b) Endeavour to avoid or minimise such conflicts and the problems to which they give rise by following an approach of moderation and restraint, respecting and accommodating the interests of other Member countries;
c) Take fully into account the sovereignty and legitimate economic, law enforcement and other interests of other Member countries;
d) Bear in mind the importance of permitting the observance of contractual obligations and the possible adverse impact of measures having a retroactive effect.
2. Member countries should endeavour to promote co-operation as an alternative to unilateral action to avoid or minimise conflicting requirements and problems arising therefrom. Member countries should on request consult one another and endeavour to arrive at mutually acceptable solutions to such problems.
3. Member countries recognised that in the majority of circumstances, effective co-operation may best be pursued on a bilateral basis. On the other hand, there may be cases where the multilateral approach could be more effective.
4. Member countries should therefore be prepared to:
a) Develop mutually beneficial, practical and appropriately safeguarded bilateral arrangements, formal or informal, for notification to and consultation with other Member countries;
b) Give prompt and sympathetic consideration to requests for notification and bilateral consultation on an ad hoc basis made by any Member country which considers that its interests may be affected by a measure of the type referred to under paragraph 1 above, taken by another Member country with which it does not have such bilateral arrangements;
c) Inform the other concerned Member countries as soon as practicable of new legislation or regulations proposed by their Governments for adoption which have significant potential for conflict with the legal requirements or established policies of other Member countries and for giving rise to conflicting requirements being imposed on multinational enterprises;
d) Give prompt and sympathetic consideration to requests by other Member countries for consultation in the Committee on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises or through other mutually acceptable arrangements. Such consultations would be facilitated by notification at the earliest stage practicable;
e) Give prompt and full consideration to proposals which may be by other Member countries in any such consultations that would lessen or eliminate conflicts.
These procedures do not apply to those aspects of restrictive business practices or other matters which are the subject of existing OECD arrangements.
June 1991
THE COUNCIL,
Having regard to the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development of 14th December 1960 and, in particular, to Articles 2d), 3 and 5a) thereof;
Having regard to the Resolution of the Council of 28th November 1979, on the Terms of Reference of the Committee on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises and, in particular, to paragraph 2 thereof [C(70)210(Final)];
Recalling that the Council at Ministerial level endorsed the Conclusions and Recommendations of the Report on the Second Review of the 1976 Declaration and Decisions on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises [C/MIN(84)5(Final)], and in particular the section in that Report on conflicting requirements;
Taking note of the Declaration by the Governments of OECD Member countries of 21st June 1976 (Revised 4-5 June 1991) in which they jointly recommend to Member countries to co-operate with a view of avoiding or minimising conflicting requirements being imposed on multinational enterprises;
Recognising the desirability of maintaining procedures by which consultations may take place on matters related to conflicting requirements;
Recognising that, while bilateral and multilateral co-operation should be strengthened when multinational enterprises are made subject to conflicting requirements, effective co-operation on problems arising therefrom may best be pursued in most circumstances on a bilateral level, although there may be cases where the multilateral approach would be more effective;
On the proposal of the Committee on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises:
DECIDES: