On 18 and 19 September 2008, the Energy Charter Secretariat organised, in cooperation with the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) and the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, a two-day Conference on "The Energy Charter Treaty: Energy security, investment protection and future developments". The Conference was hosted by the BIICL in London and covered many topics relating to the significance of the Energy Charter Treaty in ensuring energy security and providing protection for energy investments.

The speakers, internationally recognised legal experts in the area of energy and investment, addressed topics such as dispute settlement under the ECT, the importance of the ECT for key States such as the Russian Federation, the meaning of provisional application of the ECT, the investment protection regime under the ECT, and energy investment and promotion under the ECT.

On 1-5 September 2008, experts from Norway, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Germany, supported by staff from the Energy Charter Secretariat, travelled to Bratislava for the Second In-Depth Energy Efficiency Review of the Slovak Republic. In 1999, the Slovak Republic was the first country to undertake an in-depth review under the Energy Charter's Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Related Environmental Aspects (PEEREA). The Slovak Ministry of Economy invited a second review to consider developments and provide recommendations on further steps that could be taken to improve energy efficiency. In-depth reviews assess the progress of countries in fulfilling commitments under the Protocol, enhance the level of cooperation among PEEREA Parties, and promote continuous dialogue and transfer of experience and information.

In July 2008 Vladimir Rakhmanin became Deputy Secretary General of the Energy Charter Secretariat.

Before joining the Secretariat, Vladimir Rakhmanin was Ambassador at Large in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, chairing the Working Group on the Mechanism of Peace and Security in Northeast Asia of the Six-Party Talks on Denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. Amb. Rakhmanin has enjoyed a distinguished career in the Russian civil service, including appointments as the Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1998-2000), Chief of Protocol of the President of the Russian Federation (2000-2002), and Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ireland (2002-2006).

Amb. Rakhmanin's predecessor was Dr. Andrei Konoplyanik who was Deputy Secretary General from March 2002 to April 2008.

The Secretary General André Mernier travelled to Amman and Damascus on 18-19 June to promote closer association between the countries in the Middle East and the Energy Charter process. During his visit, Amb. Mernier has held several high-level meetings with representatives of the Jordanian and Syrian governments.

Jordan became an observer to the Energy Charter Treaty in December 2007. Both the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mrs Suhair Al-Ali and the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Mr Khaldoun Qteishat have confirmed the government's keenness to become a full member of the Treaty.
(see article published in The Jordan Times on 19 June 2008, PDF format)

(2008) This report looks at the effect of LNG trade development on energy security and provides an outlook for several LNG regions.

(2008) The Energy Charter has completed a progress in-depth review of energy efficiency in Bulgaria.

(2008) This Regular Review was prepared by the Albanian authorities.

(2008) This Regular Review was prepared by the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina.