Press release
Minister Ryan welcomes decision to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, has welcomed the Council of Energy Ministers decision, at its meeting yesterday (Thursday, 30 May), to adopt a proposal to leave the Energy Charter Treaty. A memo will be brought to Cabinet to recommend that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, writes to the Energy Charter Treaty secretariat informing them of Ireland’s decision to withdraw.
Minister Ryan said:
"As I have publicly stated on many occasions, the Energy Charter Treaty is not fit for purpose. Ireland had previously signalled our intent to leave the treaty, but we always said we had to do so in a coordinated way with the other Member States.
"Ireland, led by officials in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, has engaged with all of our EU partners on the best way forward to achieve this. Leaving as a bloc, gives us more strength.
"The Energy Charter Treaty is not aligned with the Paris Agreement on climate change, and frankly, acts as a barrier to a just green transition. We can no longer be party to an international treaty that allows energy companies to sue governments over policies that aim to bring effect to the clean energy transition that the world needs."
ENDS