Meta Data
Draft: 
No
Revision of previous policy?: 
No
Draft Year: 
1994
Effective Start Year: 
1998
Scope: 
Multilateral
Document Type: 
Agreement
Economic Sector: 
Energy, Transport
Energy Types: 
All, Renewable, Other
Issued by: 
The Governments of the Parties
Notes: 
Australia and the Russian Federation did not ratify the Energy Charter Treaty
Overall Summary: 
The 1998 Treaty is a legally binding multilateral agreement. It is the only agreement of its kind dealing with inter-governmental cooperation in the energy sector, covering the whole energy value chain (from exploration to end-use) and all energy products and energy-related equipment. This Treaty establishes a legal framework in order to promote long-term cooperation in the energy field, based on complementarities and mutual benefits, in accordance with the objectives and principles of the Charter.
Efficiency
EE priorities: 
Contracting parties shall: [...] have particular regard to Improving Energy Efficiency[...].
Renewable Energy
RE priorities: 
Contracting parties shall: [...] have particular regard [...] to developing and using renewable energy sources[...].
Environment
Energy environmental priorities: 
Contracting Parties shall accordingly: (a) take account of environmental considerations throughout the formulation and implementation of their energy policies; promote market-oriented price formation and a fuller reflection of environmental costs and benefits throughout the Energy Cycle.
Pollution control action plans: 
Contracting parties shall: [...] have particular regard to [...] to promoting the use of cleaner fuels and to employing technologies and technological means that reduce pollution.
Cooperation in env.: 
Contracting Parties shall: [...] encourage cooperation in the attainment of the environmental objectives of the Charter and cooperation in the field of international environmental standards for the Energy Cycle, taking into account differences in adverse effects and abatement costs between Contracting Parties; [...] promote the collection and sharing among Contracting Parties of information on environmentally sound and economically efficient energy policies and Cost-Effective practices and technologies; [...] promote and cooperate in the research, development and application of energy efficient and environmentally sound technologies, practices and processes which will minimize harmful Environmental Impacts of all aspects of the Energy Cycle in an economically efficient manner.[...] promote international awareness and information exchange on Contracting Parties' relevant environmental programmes and standards and on the implementation of those programmes and standards.
Pricing
Energy pricing: 
Contracting Parties shall accordingly: [...] promote market-oriented price formation and a fuller reflection of environmental costs and benefits throughout the Energy Cycle.
Cooperation in energy pricing: 
[N]othing in this Treaty shall create rights or impose obligations with respect to Taxation Measures of the Contracting Parties. In the event of any inconsistency between this Article and any other provision of the Treaty, this Article shall prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.
Energy Supply and Infrastructure
Regional integration priorities: 
The Contracting Parties shall work to promote access to international markets on commercial terms, and generally to develop an open and competitive market, for Energy Materials and Products.---Each Contracting Party shall work to alleviate market distortions and barriers to competition in Economic Activity in the Energy Sector.[...] Contracting Parties may cooperate in the enforcement of their competition rules by consulting and exchanging information.
Cooperation in connectivity: 
Contracting Parties shall encourage relevant entities to cooperate in: (a) modernizing Energy Transport Facilities necessary to the Transit of Energy Materials and Products; (b) the development and operation of Energy Transport Facilities serving the Areas of more than one Contracting Party; (c) measures to mitigate the effects of interruptions in the supply of Energy Materials and Products; (d) facilitating the interconnection of Energy Transport Facilities.---Contracting Parties shall, [...], secure established flows of Energy Materials and Products to, from or between the Areas of other Contracting Parties.
Trade
Bi- and multi-lateral energy agreements: 
The provisions of this Treaty shall not be so construed as to oblige a Contracting Party which is party to an Economic Integration Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "EIA") to extend, by means of most favoured nation treatment, to another Contracting Party which is not a party ta that EIA, any preferential treatment applicable between the parties to that EIA as a result of their being parties thereto.
Advance rulings: 
Each Contracting Party shall take the necessary measures to facilitate the Transit of Energy Materials and Products consistent with the principle of freedom of transit and without distinction as to the origin, destination or ownership of such Energy Materials and Products or discrimination as to pricing on the basis of such distinctions, and without imposing any unreasonable delays, restrictions or charges.---Each Contracting Party undertakes that its provisions relating to transport of Energy Materials and Products and the use of Energy Transport Facilities shall treat Energy Materials and Products in Transit in no less favourable a manner than its provisions treat such materials and products originating in or destined for its own Area, unless an existing international agreement provides otherwise.
Investment
Intellectual property rights: 
The Contracting Parties agree [...]to implement the objectives of the Charter subject to their laws and regulations, and to the protection of Intellectual Property rights.
Investment climate development: 
Each Contracting Party shall [...] promote conditions for access to its capital market by companies and nationals of other Contracting Parties, for the purpose of financing trade in Energy Materials and Products and for the purpose of Investment in Economic Activity in the Energy Sector in the Areas of those other Contracting Parties, on a basis no less favourable than that which it accords in like circumstances to its own companies and nationals or companies and nationals of any other Contracting Party or any third state, whichever is the most favourable.---Contracting Parties shall, in implementing programmes in Economic Activity in the Energy Sector to improve the economic stability and investment climates of the Contracting Parties, seek as appropriate to encourage the operations and take advantage of the expertise of relevant international financial institutions.---Each Contracting Party shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty, encourage and create stable, equitable, favourable and transparent conditions for Investors of other Contracting Parties to Make Investments in its Area. [...].
Overseas investment support: 
A Contracting Party may adopt and maintain programmes providing for access to public Joans, grants, guarantees or insurance for facilitating trade or Investment abroad.
Governance
Energy management principles: 
The Contracting Parties recognize state sovereignty and sovereign rights over energy resources. They reaffirm that these must be exercised in accordance with and subject to the rules of international law.
Technology
Clean energy technology priorities: 
Contracting parties shall: [...] [promote] the use of cleaner fuels and to employing technologies and technological means that reduce pollution.
Clean energy technology transfer: 
The Contracting Parties agree to promote access to and transfer of energy technology on a commercial and non-discriminatory basis to assist effective trade in Energy Materials and Products and Investment [...].---[T]he Contracting Parties shall eliminate existing and create no new obstacles to the transfer of technology in the field of Energy Materials and Products and related equipment and services, subject to non-proliferation and other international obligations;
Technology collaboration with other member States: 
Contracting Parties shall: [...] promote and cooperate in the research, development and application of energy efficient and environmentally sound technologies, practices and processes which will minimize harmful Environmental Impacts of all aspects of the Energy Cycle in an economically efficient manner.