Today, Europe’s energy ministers formally adopted the European Commission’s proposal for the EU to leave the controversial Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), an international trade agreement protecting fossil fuel investments at the expense of climate action. After years of campaigning for an exit, Friends of the Earth Europe and climate justice activists across Europe celebrate this historical victory for people, the environment and the climate.
The compromise brokered between the EU Commission and the EU Council allows member states to remain part of the ECT if they choose, but the Energy Council decided that this option will not require EU authorisation, contrary to the Commission’s initial proposal. The EU and member states also agreed not to block the adoption of the ECT modernisation proposals at the upcoming Energy Charter Conference.
Paul de Clerck, economic justice expert at Friends of the Earth Europe said:
“The EU’s decision to exit the Energy Charter Treaty sends a powerful message: to fight climate change, we must urgently transition away from fossil fuels and ensure a European gas phase-out. But permitting member states to remain part of the ECT is a compromise that will undermine this progress.
We urge all countries to break free from the Treaty, severe ties with the fossil industry, and end the practice of secret ISDS corporate courts embedded in many other trade and investment deals.”
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Stop the Energy Charter Treaty
The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is a major obstacle to fast and effective action on the climate and environmental crisis. Our transformation to a green and fair society will become harder, slower and more expensive if we don’t stop it.
