Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what her Department’s policy is on the proposed modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty.

The UK supports the modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and will ensure that the Treaty delivers for the Government’s priorities, which include tackling climate change and supporting the global clean energy transition.

The UK encourages the renegotiation of the investment protection provisions in the ECT, which seek to bring the Treaty in line with modern investment treaty practices. We also welcome the role of the ECT in ensuring consistent legal protection for UK investors operating abroad. This will allow UK companies, investing in countries that have signed the Treaty, to enjoy more protection for their assets, including those involved in renewable energy production.