30/01/2026 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 30 January, the European Commission sent letters of formal notice to 16 Member States that are still contracting parties to the Energy Charter Treaty after the EU and Euratom withdrew from the treaty on 28 June 2025. The countries concerned are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and the Czech Republic. As the European Commission reiterates in a press release, the European Union has exclusive competence in trade and investment, and Member States can only exercise these competences if the EU authorises them to do so. The European Commission is calling on the Member States concerned to withdraw from this treaty immediately. They have two months to respond to the letters of formal notice. (PLD)