This book presents the very first, interdisciplinarily grounded, comprehensive appraisal of a future "Common European Law on Investment Screening". Thereby, it provides a foundation for a European administrative law framework for investment screening by setting out viable solutions and evaluating their pros and cons. Daimler, the harbour terminal in Zeebrugge, or Saxo Bank are only three recent examples of controversially discussed company takeovers in Europe. The "elephant in the room" is China and its "Belt and Road Initiative". The political will in Europe is growing to more actively control investments flowing into the EU. The current regulatory initiatives raise several fundamental, constitutional and regulatory issues. Surprisingly, they have not been addressed in any depth so far. The book takes stock of the current rather fragmented regulatory approaches and combines contributions from leading international academics, practitioners, and policy makers in their respective fields. Due to the volume's comprehensive approach, it is expected to influence the broader debate on the EU's upcoming regulation of this matter. The book is addressed to participants from academia as well as to representatives from government, business, and civil society.

This volume addresses contemporary challenges, enabled by modern technology, that concern upholding freedom of speech where it conflicts with social rights, such as respect for private and family life, and with economic rights, such as the freedom to conduct business or the right to free movement. In today's networked world, technological shifts happen faster than most people even realize. Some of these shifts have made us all potentially powerful: media powerful. We used to sit in silence in front of newspapers and TV screens, and the world was explained to us by just a few sources. Today, thanks to the Internet, social media, and Web 2.0, we can not only share our own thoughts with everyone in a more self-determined way, but we can also take part in public debate and even co-shape it ourselves. Of course, the Internet is not a counter-design to the communication (power) structures of the past. Gains in communicative self-determination are threatened due to algorithmisation, platformisation, and value extraction from self-created private markets. At the same time, the empowerment of the individual challenges the old "grand speakers" who are suddenly detecting "fake news", echo chambers, and filter bubbles everywhere on the Internet. Internet-based communication allegedly hinders us from the "one truth"; as if newspaper hoaxes, propaganda, and narrow-mindedness were an invention of the Internet. The current heated debate over "fake news", copyright, and "upload filters" shows that we are unsure of how to deal with the newer and more complex phenomena of Internet-based speech. This is due in no small part to the fact that an important benchmark - our constitutional compass - is still firmly rooted in the past. Constitutions change far more slowly than technologies. Societal changes can drive constitutional changes; but what about normative content control? Today, there are already demands for "old-school clarity": truth filters on social media platforms, horrendous sums of liability for platforms that encourage (overly)thorough cleaning up. However, it is equally true that private individuals "regulate": they decide what is found on the Internet and who may post on a given platform. Accounting for all interests at play and striking a "fair" balance that avoids both a public and private over- and under-regulation is a complex matter. The authors of this volume not only provide reflections in their highly topical contributions, but also share their understanding of what constitutes a fair balance within the larger frame of freedom of speech in a digital age.

The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty entails sweeping changes with respect to foreign investment regulation. Most prominently, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) now contains in its Article 207 an explicit competence for the regulation of foreign direct investment as part of the Common Commercial Policy (CCP) chapter. With this new competence, the EU will become an important actor in the field of international investment politics and law. The new empowerment in the field of international investment law prompts a multitude of questions. This volume analyzes in depth the new "post-Lisbon situation" in the area of investment policy, provokes further discussion and offers new approaches.

This volume addresses contemporary challenges, enabled by modern technology, that concern upholding freedom of speech where it conflicts with social rights, such as respect for private and family life, and with economic rights, such as the freedom to conduct business or the right to free movement. In today’s networked world, technological shifts happen faster than most people even realize. Some of these shifts have made us all potentially powerful: media powerful. We used to sit in silence in front of newspapers and TV screens, and the world was explained to us by just a few sources. Today, thanks to the Internet, social media, and Web 2.0, we can not only share our own thoughts with everyone in a more self-determined way, but we can also take part in public debate and even co-shape it ourselves. Of course, the Internet is not a counter-design to the communication (power) structures of the past. Gains in communicative self-determination are threatened due to algorithmisation, platformisation, and value extraction from self-created private markets. At the same time, the empowerment of the individual challenges the old “grand speakers” who are suddenly detecting “fake news”, echo chambers, and filter bubbles everywhere on the Internet. Internet-based communication allegedly hinders us from the “one truth”; as if newspaper hoaxes, propaganda, and narrow-mindedness were an invention of the Internet. The current heated debate over “fake news”, copyright, and “upload filters” shows that we are unsure of how to deal with the newer and more complex phenomena of Internet-based speech. This is due in no small part to the fact that an important benchmark – our constitutional compass – is still firmly rooted in the past. Constitutions change far more slowly than technologies. Societal changes can drive constitutional changes; but what about normative content control? Today, there are already demands for “old-school clarity”: truth filters on social media platforms, horrendous sums of liability for platforms that encourage (overly)thorough cleaning up. However, it is equally true that private individuals “regulate”: they decide what is found on the Internet and who may post on a given platform. Accounting for all interests at play and striking a “fair” balance that avoids both a public and private over- and under-regulation is a complex matter. The authors of this volume not only provide reflections in their highly topical contributions, but also share their understanding of what constitutes a fair balance within the larger frame of freedom of speech in a digital age.

The scope of protection offered to foreign investors by EU law has become a matter of intense political debate. Neo-protectionist policies are on the rise within EU Member States, who are struggling to acclimatize to increasing inward direct investment from developing countries. Strict regulations are being implemented to control the flow of this investment, undermining the principle of free movement of capital. Are such policies permitted under EU law? What impact does EU law have on foreign direct investment? This book addresses these questions through a coherent doctrinal reconstruction of the EC Treaty provisions on free movement of capital in a third country context.
Opening with a timely restatement of the central features of the EU law of free movement of capital, the book then asks the central question: What rights does a private market participant, engaged in cross-border direct investment originating from or directed to a non-EU Member State, enjoy by virtue of the EC Treaty? The book argues that in principle, the provisions on free movement of capital apply the same liberal standards irrespective of whether intra Community or third country direct investment is involved. Hence, those who participate in third country direct investment enjoy essentially the same guarantees by virtue of the provisions on free movement of capital as those active in intra Community direct investment. Having established the legal doctrine, the book then examines the limits on restrictions to free movement, including financial regulation and discriminatory tax regimes.

Dieses Buch gibt Antworten darauf, wie in Zeiten von Facebook und Fake News der verfassungsrechtliche Schutz des freien oeffentlichen Diskurses gelingen kann. Es untersucht, wie die Verfassung auf einen nicht mehr nur durch Rundfunk und Presse klassischen Zuschnitts, sondern auch durch eine Vielzahl Einzelner organisierten massenmedialen Diskurs reagiert und wie das Verstandnis der den Diskurs pragenden verfassungsrechtlichen Bausteine aktualisiert werden kann.Die technischen und wirtschaftlichen Bedingungen massenmedialer Kommunikation haben sich fundamental gewandelt. Das vorherrschende verfassungsdogmatische Schutzkonzept - ein "Ersatzmodell von Freiheit" - kann diesem Wandel nicht ausreichend Rechnung tragen. Der Einzelne muss heute nicht mehr nur vor, sondern auch in seiner Medienmacht geschutzt werden. Ausgehend von kommunikationswissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen wird ein verfassungsrechtliches Verstandnis entwickelt, das den Einzelnen wieder ins Zentrum eines freien massenmedialen Diskurses ruckt.

This book presents the very first, interdisciplinarily grounded, comprehensive appraisal of a future "Common European Law on Investment Screening". Thereby, it provides a foundation for a European administrative law framework for investment screening by setting out viable solutions and evaluating their pros and cons. Daimler, the harbour terminal in Zeebrugge, or Saxo Bank are only three recent examples of controversially discussed company takeovers in Europe. The "elephant in the room" is China and its "Belt and Road Initiative". The political will in Europe is growing to more actively control investments flowing into the EU. The current regulatory initiatives raise several fundamental, constitutional and regulatory issues. Surprisingly, they have not been addressed in any depth so far. The book takes stock of the current rather fragmented regulatory approaches and combines contributions from leading international academics, practitioners, and policy makers in their respective fields. Due to the volume's comprehensive approach, it is expected to influence the broader debate on the EU's upcoming regulation of this matter. The book is addressed to participants from academia as well as to representatives from government, business, and civil society.

The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty entails sweeping changes with respect to foreign investment regulation. Most prominently, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) now contains in its Article 207 an explicit competence for the regulation of foreign direct investment as part of the Common Commercial Policy (CCP) chapter. With this new competence, the EU will become an important actor in the field of international investment politics and law. The new empowerment in the field of international investment law prompts a multitude of questions. This volume analyzes in depth the new "post-Lisbon situation" in the area of investment policy, provokes further discussion and offers new approaches.

International investment law is in transition. Whereas the prevailing mindset has always been the protection of the economic interests of individual investors, new developments in international investment law have brought about a paradigm shift. There is now more than ever before an interest in a more inclusive, transparent, and public regime. Shifting Paradigms in International Investment Law addresses these changes against the background of the UNCTAD framework to reform investment treaties. The book analyses how the investment treaty regime has changed and how it ought to be changing to reconcile private property interests and the state's duty to regulate in the public interest. In doing so, the volume tracks attempts in international investment law to recalibrate itself towards a more balanced, less isolated, and increasingly diversified regime. The individual chapters of this edited volume address the contents of investment agreements, the system of dispute settlement, the interrelation of investment agreements with other areas of public international law, constitutional questions, and new regional perspectives from Europe, South Africa, the Pacific Rim Region, and Latin America. Together they provide an invaluable resource for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers. The individual chapters of this edited volume address the contents of investment agreements, the system of dispute settlement, the interrelation of investment agreements with other areas of public international law, constitutional questions, and new regional perspectives from Europe, South Africa, the Pacific Rim Region, and Latin America. Together they provide an invaluable resource for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.