The German government announced its decision to exit the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) - an international trade and investment agreement concluded in the early 1990s to protect investments in the energy sector - on Friday 11 November, following negotiations between the three parties forming the governing coalition (SPD, FDP and the Greens).
Germany joins the ranks of EU Member States that have decided to exit the ECT, along with Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, France and Slovenia (see EUROPE 13061/17). All these countries are critical of the outcome of the negotiations between the contracting parties to modernise the ECT, deeming the agreement in principle reached in June to be insufficient in view of the climate objectives (see EUROPE 12979/10).
“The results fall short of Germany’s and Europe’s expectations for climate neutrality” the German government statement said.
The text also underlines Berlin’s intention to abstain in the vote to define the EU’s position for the next meeting of the ECT contracting parties on 22-23 November. During these two days, the European Commission will represent the EU at a meeting of the Energy Charter Conference to adopt the agreement in principle.
With this in mind, the Member States will define the EU’s position on 18 November at the General Affairs Council, two days after a discussion on the subject at the level of their ambassadors to the EU (Coreper). (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)