Energy Charter Treaty 2023-02-28
2023-02-28
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Energy Charter Treaty allows fossil fuel companies to sue governments for loss of profits due to decarbonisation efforts. Several EU countries and institutions have called for a coordinated withdrawal.
What discussions has the Minister had with his EU counterparts on the potential scope of a co-ordinated withdrawal from the energy charter treaty?
I have not held discussions with EU counterparts on the scope of co-ordinated withdrawal from the energy charter treaty and note that the EU itself does not have an agreed position as yet. We are closely monitoring the situation on the ECT.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide any details about discussions or agreements with EU counterparts, nor did he address the scope of a coordinated withdrawal.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The Energy Charter Treaty allows fossil fuel companies to sue governments for loss of profits due to decarbonisation efforts. Several EU countries and institutions have called for a coordinated withdrawal.
Does the Minister agree that any treaty punishing attempts to tackle the climate crisis is fundamentally wrong? Does he also agree with France, Spain, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Slovenia, the European Parliament and the European Commission that modernising the ECT is impossible and that it is time for a coordinated withdrawal from this treaty?
We were firm proponents of modernising the treaty precisely so that it would not do what the hon. Lady described, but, as I have said already, we will continue to watch the situation closely.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not explicitly agree or disagree with other EU countries and institutions about modernising or withdrawing from the ECT.
Response accuracy