17 February 2010
Two-day Meeting of the Trade and Transit Group
19 February 2010
(Ad Hoc) Strategy Group of the Energy Charter
Following the successful ratification by thirty-five ECT Signatory states, the Trade Amendment to the Energy Charter Treaty has entered into force on 21 January 2010. This brings the Treaty's trade provisions, which were initially based on the trading regime of the GATT, into line with the rules and practices of the World Trade Organisation.
The shared principles underpinning both the Energy Charter Treaty's approach and that of the WTO are non-discrimination, transparency and a commitment to the progressive liberalisation of international trade.
The Trade Amendment also expands the Treaty's scope to cover trade in energy-related equipment, and set out a mechanism for introducing in the future a legally-binding stand-still on customs duties and charges for energy-related imports and exports.
The Treaty's amended trade regime represents an important stepping stone for those eight of its Signatory states which have not yet acceded to the WTO. It allows them to familiarise themselves with the practices and disciplines that WTO membership entails, through application of its rules "by reference" to trade in energy materials and products and energy-related equipment.
Read moreOTHER NEWS
On 9 December 2009, the 20th Meeting of the Energy Charter Conference convened in Rome at the invitation of the Government of Italy. The Rome Meeting of the Conference was one of the most important in recent years and brought together representatives of over 60 states, as well of international organisations and the energy industry.
On 9 November 2009, more than 150 experts from government, business and international organisations gathered for a workshop in Amman to discuss practical steps to promote energy efficiency in Jordan and in the region. Following presentations from a range of Jordanian and international speakers including the Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources of Jordan Mr. Khaldoun Qteishat, a round table of experts discussed key priorities for future action.
"In today’s energy-dependent world, securing energy investments is a challenge for producer, consumer and transit countries alike. The dramatic breakdown in gas deliveries from Russia to Europe in early 2009 demonstrates the importance of secure transit mechanisms for grid-bound energy investments. The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), signed in 1994 and with 53 members, is the only multilateral treaty which covers both investment protection and transit dispute resolution issues."
This one-and-a-half day conference took place in Brussels on 22-23 October 2009.
On 9 October 2009, the Energy Charter Secretary General Amb. André Mernier addressed the 55th Atlantic Treaty Association General Assembly meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, on the issue of "Promoting Energy Security in the Black Sea Region: the Role of the Energy Charter Treaty". In his speech the Secretary General highlighted the dual role of the Black Sea as a major energy transit region with global importance and as an emerging energy producer region of considerable potential.
PUBLICATIONS
(2010) This report takes an in-depth look at the investment climate and market structure of Tajikistan's energy sector.
(2009) This report provides the first analysis of the applicability of the Energy Charter Treaty to the development of carbon capture and storage.
(2009) This Regular Review was prepared by the Italian authorities.
(2009) This report looks into LNG supply, demand and costs in the recent volatile market as well as their impacts on LNG pricing.
More publications