THE REGULATION OF THE MOST FAVORED NATION CLAUSES IN BILATERAL INVESTMENT TREATIES TO WHICH TURKEY IS A PARTY

Abstract

This article examines the regulation of the “most-favoured-nation” (MFN) clause in bilateral investment treaties (BITs) to which Turkey is a party. The MFN clause is a treaty provision whereby the contracting parties agree to extend to each other or each other’s nationals the most favourable treatment granted, or to be granted in the future, to third states or their nationals. The ambiguity surrounding the scope and limits of this clause has led to divergent interpretations and contradictions, particularly in investment arbitration cases. The article analyses the scope, formulation, and limitations of the MFN clause in Turkish BITs, focusing on the specific fields to which the clause is applied or excluded. It also explores the applicability of the clause to dispute settlement mechanisms and the criteria used to compare foreign investors under this standard. Finally, the article evaluates the relevant provisions of Turkey’s model BIT and discusses their practical implications. In this context, the study provides a comprehensive assessment of the MFN clause within the framework of Turkey’s bilateral investment agreements.

Keywords

• Most favored nation clause
• Protection of international investments
• Bilateral investment treaties
• Standards of treatment in international investment law
• Foreign Direct Investments

TÜRKİYE’NİN TARAF OLDUĞU YATIRIMLARIN KARŞILIKLI TEŞVİKİ VE KORUNMASINA İLİŞKİN ANLAŞMALARDA EN ÇOK GÖZETİLEN ULUS KAYDININ DÜZENLENMESİ

Abstract

Bu makale, Türkiye’nin taraf olduğu yatırımların karşılıklı teşviki ve korunması (YKTK) anlaşmalardaki “en çok gözetilen ulus” kaydının düzenlenmesini incelemektedir. En çok gözetilen ulus kaydı, bir anlaşmada, tarafların, anlaşmaya taraf olmayan üçüncü devletlere veya bu devletlerin yurttaşlarına tanıdıkları ya da ileride tanıyacakları en iyi muameleyi birbirlerine ya da birbirlerinin yurttaşlarına da uygulamayı kabul ettiklerini açıklayan anlaşma hükmüdür. Bu kaydın kapsamı ve sınırlarının belirsizliği, özellikle yatırım tahkimi davalarında farklı yorumlara ve çelişkilere yol açmıştır. Makale, Türkiye’nin taraf olduğu YKTK anlaşmalarındaki en çok gözetilen ulus kaydının kapsamını, düzenleme biçimini ve hangi alanlarla sınırlandırıldığını analiz etmektedir. Kaydın uyuşmazlık çözüm mekanizmalarına uygulanabilirliği ve yabancı yatırımcılar arasındaki karşılaştırma kriterleri de makale kapsamında incelenmiştir. Son olarak, Türkiye’nin model YKTK metni üzerinden yapılan düzenlemeler ve bu düzenlemelerin uygulamadaki etkileri ele alınmıştır. Bu bağlamda, makale, Türkiye'nin taraf olduğu YKTK anlaşmaları çerçevesinde en çok gözetilen ulus kaydının bir değerlendirmesini sunmaktadır.

Keywords

• En çok gözetilen ulus kaydı
• Uluslararası yatırımların korunması
• Yatırımların karşılıklı teşviki ve korunması anlaşmaları
• Uluslararası yatırım hukukunda muamele esasları
• Doğrudan yabancı yatırımlar

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