Spain withdraws from Energy Charter Treaty

From Madrid, the Minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, indicated that she did not see any improvements after four years of negotiations aimed at reforming the treaty on the energy charter. Basically, Spain will withdraw from the TCE. This text protects investors in fossil fuels, allowing them to take legal action against States. It remains a serious anomaly in the face of the climate challenge. Thus, for the first time in its history, France is being sued by the German firm, Encavis AG, for having modified, in 2020, the tariffs for the purchase of photovoltaic electricity. But, while the “modernization” of this harmful treaty is being negotiated, the French government remains silent about its intentions. Italy left in 2015, Poland will initiate a withdrawal procedure. The European campaign of civil society and climate activists intends to increase pressure on Paris to obtain an outright withdrawal from the TCE. The “Exit-TCE-Now” petition has already gathered more than 1 million signatures.