Martins Paparinskis, The International Minimum Standard and Fair and Equitable Treatment

摘要

This essay reviews five recent books on the fair and equitable treatment (FET) standard; the reading of all five books under review demonstrates that FET-related discourse is but a delicate exercise of the art of balanced attention and deep understanding ('watching out') of the more, as well as the less, obvious methodological issues concerned. Accordingly, on the one hand, the systemic issue of the relationship of FET with the international minimum standard and general international law (the 'elephant') is unquestionably central for the interpretation and application of the FET standard. On the other, the concept of 'creeping' violations of FET and prior recourse to available remedies as a 'factor' in FET analysis, constitute two more normatively delicate issues (the 'fleas') which need to be sufficiently dealt with beforehand, so as to have a full picture of the contours of FET in the (normative) 'room' of modern investment protection law.