On 28 February 2025, the Republic of Finland delivered to the Energy Charter Secretariat, in its capacity as the Depositary of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) on an interim basis, a declarationunder paragraph 3(a) of the Energy Charter Conference Decision CCDEC 2024 15 GEN that it is not able to accept the provisional application of the amendments to the ECT adopted on 3 December 2024, the modifications in Section C of Annex NI and the changes and modifications to other Annexes approved on 3...
On 25 February 2025, the Principality of Liechtenstein delivered to the Energy Charter Secretariat, in its capacity as the Depositary of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) on an interim basis, a declarationunder paragraph 3(a) of the Energy Charter Conference Decision CCDEC 2024 15 GEN that it is not able to accept the provisional application of the amendments to the ECT adopted on 3 December 2024, the modifications in Section C of Annex NI and the changes and modifications to other Annexes...
On 25 February 2025, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland notified the Energy Charter Secretariat, in its capacity as the Depositary of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) on an interim basis, of its intention not to become a Contracting Party to the Energy Charter Treaty in relation to Gibraltar, in accordance with Article 45(3) of the ECT.
Pursuant to Article 45(3)(a) of the ECT, the termination of the provisional application for any signatory shall take effect upon the...
On 25 February 2025, H.E. Mr. Behzod Ikromov, Acting Deputy Head of the Mission of the Republic of Tajikistan to the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, visited the Energy Charter Secretariat and met with Acting Secretary-General, Ms. Atsuko Hirose.
The parties discussed and re-affirmed continued cooperation between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Secretariat going forward, including potential participation by the Secretariat in the International Conference on Glaciers...
In line with the decisions of the Energy Charter Conference (CCDEC 2024 16 GEN and CCDEC 2025 01 GEN), the Energy Charter Secretariat has officially assumed, on an interim basis, the role of the Depositary of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and the Energy Charter Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Related Environmental Aspects (PEEREA), effective as of 2 February 2025.
As the interim Depositary, the Energy Charter Secretariat is responsible for receiving and processing all notifications,...
On 31 January 2025, the Contracting Parties to the Energy Charter Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Related Environmental Aspects (PEEREA) adopted amendments to the PEEREA, formally designating the Energy Charter Secretariat as its successor Depositary.
Effective 2 February 2025, and pending the official entry into force of these amendments, the Energy Charter Secretariat assumes the role of Depositary on an interim basis, ensuring the continued administration of the PEEREA.
On 6 February 2025, Kluwer Arbitration Blog posted on its website an interview with Acting Secretary-General, Ms. Atsuko Hirose, where she shared her insights following the adoption of the modernised Energy Charter Treaty (“ECT”) by the Energy Charter Conference on 3 December 2024.
In her interview, Ms. Hirose touched upon several key issues, including the role of the Secretariat as the Depository of the ECT, the key challenges and opportunities in the modernised ECT to speed up the transition...
The Government of the Portuguese Republic, serving as the Depositary of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and the Energy Charter Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Related Environmental Aspects (PEEREA) until 2 February 2025, has confirmed the receipt of a notification from the Kingdom of Norway of its intention not to become a Contracting Party to the ECT and the PEEREA on 12 November 2024.
The Government of the Portuguese Republic, serving as the Depositary of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) until 2 February 2025, has confirmed the receipt of a written notification of withdrawalfrom the ECT from the Kingdom of Denmark on 3 September 2024. The withdrawal shall take effect on 4 September 2025.
In accordance with Article 47(3) of the ECT, investments covered by the ECT at the time of withdrawal will continue to be protected for 20 years from the withdrawal date.
On 27 January 2025, Acting Secretary-General, Ms. Atsuko Hirose, attended a reception hosted by H.E. Mr. Margulan Baimukhan, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kindgom of Belgium and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and Head of Mission to the European Union and to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to bid farewell to the Deputy Head of Mission, H.E. Mr. Timur Sultangozhin, who newly assumed the position of Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Hellenic Republic.
On 23 January 2025, Acting Secretary-General, Ms. Atsuko Hirose, attended a new year’s reception held at the residence of H.E. Mr. Masahiro Mikami, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Belgium.
The event was also attended by H.E. Mr. Kazutoshi Aikawa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan and Head of Mission to the European Union, as well as H.E. Osamu Izawa, Ambassador of Japan and Head of Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization...
On 17 January 2025, the Acting Secretary-General, Ms. Atsuko Hirose, welcomed to the Energy Charter Secretariat a delegation led by Mr. Xin Baoan, the Chairman of the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO) and the President of the China Electricity Council. GEIDCO was established in 2016 and its mandate is to facilitate grid interconnections worldwide to build renewable energy-based energy efficient and smart energy systems. It has 1090 members covering...
On 14 January 2025, Acting Secretary-General, Ms Atsuko Hirose, met with Mr. Francesco La Camera, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) following the conclusion of the 15th Assembly of IRENA. The parties discussed potential areas of cooperation.
On 13 January 2025, Acting Secretary-General, Ms Atsuko Hirose, met with Mr. Jerome Auchere, Senior Director of World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) on the sidelines of the 15th Assembly of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). WGEO is an international organisation based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates with more than 80 member states. The parties discussed with potential areas of cooperation in line with the modernised Energy Charter Treaty.
On 12 December 2024, at the invitation of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Acting Secretary-General, Ms. Atsuko Hirose, attended a conference entitled "Critical raw materials - How can the EU and Kazakhstan cooperate to ensure a stable supply chain of critical raw minerals, metals, and related products?".
The speakers included Ms. Ingrid Cailhol, Team Leader, Central Asia, Directorate-General for International Partnerships of the European Commission: Mr. Baurzhan Mukayev of the...
