The Energy Charter Treaty was designed to promote energy security through the operation of more open and competitive international energy markets, while respecting the principles of sustainable development and sovereignty over energy resources. It also established the Energy Charter Conference, which meets on a regular basis to discuss issues affecting energy cooperation.
EU and Euratom’s withdrawal
In the absence of any substantial update of the Energy Charter Treaty since the 1990s, it became outdated compared to the climate ambition at EU and international level. While the Commission led the efforts to modernise the treaty, the Council and the Parliament did not approve the amendments. The EU and Euratom therefore decided to withdraw from the treaty. On 30 May 2024, having obtained the European Parliament’s consent, the Council agreed on the EU and Euratom’s withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty.
The withdrawal was notified to the depositary of the treaty on 27 June 2024 and became effective on 28 June 2025. At the same time, and in line with the political compromise reached by EU countries, those which remained contracting parties to the treaty were able to exercise their vote at the Energy Charter Conference on 3 December 2024, so as not to prevent the adoption of amendments to the treaty.
17 EU countries continue to be parties to the Energy Charter Treaty.
Related links
- EU notifies exit from Energy Charter Treaty and puts an end to intra-EU arbitration proceedings (28 June 2024)
- Energy Charter Treaty: Council gives final green light to EU’s withdrawal (30 May 2024)
- The European Parliament gives its consent to the EU withdrawing from the Energy Charter Treaty (24 April 2024)
- European Commission proposes a coordinated EU withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty (7 July 2023)
- Agreement in principle reached on Modernised Energy Charter Treaty (24 June 2022)