Repenser les lois nationales sur l’investissement

This executive summary describes a report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) that analyzes the evolution and current functions of national investment laws. It provides a framework for policymakers to reform these laws, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all model and that laws should be designed based on specific national objectives and desired functions, such as promoting sustainable development.

• National investment laws have evolved through three distinct phases: early laws in developing countries during the 1950s-1970s focused on domestic policy and colonial legal cohesion; a shift between 1980 and 2010 toward aligning national laws with international investment treaty standards and tax incentives to attract investment; and a post-2000 period of increasing concern over the legal risks of treaty-like national laws, leading to more diverse practices.
• An analysis of 70 investment laws identified seven primary functions these laws currently serve: governing the admission and approval of foreign investments (at least 60% of laws), granting and managing investment incentives (at least 80%), facilitating investments by removing practical obstacles, guaranteeing legal protection for investors (approximately 70%), establishing investor-state dispute settlement systems (nearly 70%), specifying investor obligations and responsibilities, and monitoring and supervising foreign investments.
• The report argues against a 'ready-made' model for investment laws, suggesting instead a three-step conceptual inquiry for policymakers: first, define the policy objectives (e.g., sustainable development); second, determine the functions the law should fulfill; and third, decide on the structure and content of the law.
• The report identifies specific risks associated with different investment law functions: automatic admission approvals can strain limited bureaucratic capacity; tax incentives may deplete public funds for investments that would have occurred anyway; and certain legal protections (like fair and equitable treatment) or international arbitration consents can create acute legal and financial risks similar to those found in old-generation investment treaties.

APA

Bonnitcha, J., Nikiéma, S. H., & John, T. S. (2023). Repenser les lois nationales sur l’investissement. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-07/rethinking-national-investment-laws-summary-fr.pdf

Chicago

Bonnitcha, Jonathan, Suzy H. Nikiéma, and Taylor St John. Repenser les lois nationales sur l’investissement. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2023. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-07/rethinking-national-investment-laws-summary-fr.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bonnitcha |first1=Jonathan |last2=Nikiéma |first2=Suzy H. |last3=John |first3=Taylor St |title=Repenser les lois nationales sur l’investissement |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=July 2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-07/rethinking-national-investment-laws-summary-fr.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bonnitcha2023repenser, author = {Bonnitcha, Jonathan and Nikiéma, Suzy H. and John, Taylor St}, title = {{Repenser les lois nationales sur l’investissement}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, month = jul, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-07/rethinking-national-investment-laws-summary-fr.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }