13/11/24 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 12 November, the EU Council’s energy experts group discussed an EU Council decision on approving a new understanding of Article 49 of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) on the role of the Energy Charter Secretariat (https://aeur.eu/f/e9w ), which will be voted on as part of the ECT modernisation package (see EUROPE 13441/36). Article 49 stipulates that the government of the Portuguese Republic is the depositary of the ECT. However, following Portugal’s notification in February 2024 of its intention to withdraw from the ECT and cease to be its depositary from 2 February 2025, the contracting parties considered proposals to designate the Secretariat as the new interim depositary. The agreed proposals are due to be voted on at the 35th meeting of the Energy Charter Conference on 3 December. (PLD)