Vattenfall’s challenge to Germany’s opt-out from nuclear power is getting a lot of public attention. Vattenfall’s earlier case aganist Germany, commenced in 2009 over environmental restrictions for a coal-fired power plant in Hamburg, is often cited as an example that investment treaty arbitration lacks transparency. Not so this time: Last week, ICSID announced that the parties have agreed to make the hearing open to the public.
Here is the release:
“The hearing on jurisdiction, merits and quantum in Vattenfall AB and others v. Federal Republic of Germany is scheduled to take place before a three-member arbitral Tribunal from Monday, October 10, 2016 through Friday, October 21, 2016 (excluding Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16).
The parties have agreed to make the hearing open to the public, except for those parts involving confidential or sensitive information. A video of the hearing will be streamed online in English with a four-hour delay. The video stream will be available each day beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. EST (except that on Monday, October 10, 2016, the stream will begin at approximately 2:30 p.m. EST).
To access the hearing, please click here.”
The Tribunal was constituted in December 2012. Albert Jan van den Berg (Netherlands) is the Chairman, and the party-appointed arbitrators are Vaughan Lowe (England) and Daniel M. Price (United States).