20/11/2023 (Agence Europe) – The members of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) met for their annual conference on Monday 20 November. Although several Member States have notified their intention to withdraw from the Treaty (see EUROPE 13220/24) and others, such as the United Kingdom, are considering whether to do so, as they believe the Treaty to be inconsistent with the Paris agreements, there are no plans for Treaty members to discuss a reform, notably due to the lack of a common position within the EU. The treaty as it stands, adopted in 1998, allows fossil fuel companies to sue governments if they feel they have been wronged. While some EU Member States prefer to remain in the ECT, if it is modernised, the European Commission is firmly resolved to proceed with a coordinated withdrawal (see EUROPE 13218/6), with little progress to date on the part of the EU Council (see EUROPE 13264/6). (PLD)