Joint declaration by the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Kosovo regarding progressive and inclusive trade and investment

THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF KOSOVO (“the Governments”) commit to work together to help make international trade and investment policies more progressive and inclusive, to empower all members of society – particularly women, to have a positive impact on economic growth, and help reduce inequality and poverty. 

WITH RESPECT to the Canada-Kosovo Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Foreign Investment (“the Agreement”), the Governments:

• Reaffirm the right of each Government to regulate within its territory to achieve legitimate policy objectives such as safety; the protection of health; the environment; public morals; social and consumer protection; or the promotion and protection of cultural diversity;
• Recognize the important role of civil society and other interested groups on public policy matters relating to investment and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS);
• Recognize the need to ensure that conflicts of interest do not arise in dispute settlement proceedings; and
• Recognize the need to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are able to fully benefit from the protections of the Agreement, and will consider means of reducing the costs of dispute settlement for SMEs.