14/05/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 14 May, the EU presented its candidate for the pool of judges under the “Multiparty Interim Appellate Arbitration Arrangement' ('MPIA') to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This arrangement will allow the 18 participating members to settle their disputes and compensate for the lack of a functioning Appellate Body (AB) (see EUROPE 12478/42, 12467/31, 12456/5). The EU has appointed the Belgian Professor Joost H.B. Pauwelyn, who is a specialist in international trade law. Mr Pauwelyn has been a legal officer at the WTO Secretariat and, in this capacity, has advised various panels and divisions of the FAO. The group of 10 permanent arbitrators should be put together by the end of July 2020. EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan has also written to over 100 WTO members and has invited them to join the MPIA as well as writing to Washington to urge them to work with the EU to reform the AB. (HD)