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Leak: EU about to fail in reform of the Energy Charter Treaty | attac Austria


From July 6th to 9th, the member states of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) will again negotiate a reform of the agreement via video conference. The EU is trying to exclude fossil fuel investments from the scope of the treaty in order to make it compatible with the European Green Deal and the Paris climate agreement. Because the parallel justice for corporations contained in the ECT enables energy companies to punish governments for climate-friendly laws via parallel justice if these reduce their expected profits. *

But new ones leaked diplomatic documents reveal that a “climate-friendly” reform of the treaty will fail. You describe the negotiating position of the EU Commission as “rather weak”, as no other member state supports it. Kazakhstan even strongly rejects the position. However, the approval of all member states is required for changes to the treaty.

Only a joint exit protects against corporate actions

Due to the current leak, 6 international organizations are calling today (July 402th) in one common statement the EU governments to quickly terminate the treaty.

“The climate crisis leaves us no time for senseless negotiations. The immediate and joint exit of as many EU countries as possible, including Austria, is the safest way to protect yourself against further corporate actions against the energy transition, ”explains Lena Gerdes from Attac Austria. Even the “reform” sought by the EU would protect existing fossil fuel investments and new gas systems for another 10 to 20 years and would be completely unacceptable in view of the dramatic climate crisis.

Austria sticks to the treaty / other states consider exit

According to documents, the Austrian government is sticking to a reform of the treaty. The French Environment Minister Barbara Pompili declared in late June on the other hand, that the negotiations that have been going on for around a year are “not on the right track”. France is currently trying to convince Spain and Poland to operate a coordinated exit from the contract.

NGO campaign in Brussels against "Sword of Damocles ECT" - BILD

At a media campaign on July 6th from 11 a.m. in Brussels, activists from international NGOs portray politicians whose climate policy is hindered by the giant sword of Damocles in the Energy Charter Treaty. LINK: Pictures from the action on July 6th from noon.

Paul de Clerck from Friends of the Earth Europe explains: “It was clear from the start that this treaty could not be reformed in the interests of climate protection. If the EU governments are serious about climate protection, they have to get out of the treaty by the UN climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021. "Cornelia Maarfield from the Climate Action Network adds:" For a successful energy transition, power and the influence of fossil fuels Corporations are drastically reduced. The exit from the Energy Charter Treaty would be an important step in this direction. "

You can find an international media briefing on ECT as well as current lawsuits here to download

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