- Energy Charter: EU likely to support reform
- COP27 starts with success for developing countries
- Eurogroup: Donohoe seeks second term in office
- Mixed response to Scholz trip to China
- Von der Leyen: €1.5 billion per month for Ukraine
- G7: Fixed price cap for Russian oil
- France: Bardella replaces Le Pen as party leader
- Heads: Jacob Werksman – Europe’s chief negotiator at the COP
how firmly do the US and Europe stand by Ukraine against Russia? During his visit to Kyiv, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan assured that the United States would continue to support the country “steadfast and unwavering” after Tuesday’s congressional midterm elections. Behind the scenes, Washington is apparently urging President Volodymyr Selenskyy to appear ready for talks.
Peace talks with Moscow may be pointless at the moment, but Selenskyj should thus take the edge off the growing demands. War fatigue is also growing in Europe – in Rome tens of thousands demonstrated against further arms deliveries to Ukraine on Saturday. Meanwhile, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen assured Selenskyj of the EU’s long-term support. She wants to present plans for a new aid package of up to €18 billion this week. Read more in the News section.
The World Climate Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh started yesterday with a first success for the developing countries: Dealing with loss and damage due to climate change in the global South is now officially on the agenda of COP27. Lukas Scheid analyzes for you what to expect from the negotiations over the next two weeks.
Also highly controversial is the Energy Charter Treaty, which allows investors to sue governments’ climate policies in arbitration courts. As Charlotte Wirth learned, several EU states want to withdraw from the treaty, but they are unlikely to oppose the reform in the Council. Experts warn that the balancing act could lead to legal problems.
I wish you a good start to the new week!
Till Hoppe
Feature
Energy Charter: EU likely to support reform
Despite all the criticism of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), the EU states in the Council are expected to approve the reform. The discussion is “constructive,” several diplomats reported in an interview with Europe.Table. A blocking minority is not to expect, they said. “No one has an interest in staying with the old treaty,” said one diplomat. That also applies to countries not wanting to remain members of the ECT, he added.
In the meantime, a corresponding proposal for a Council decision is circulating. This states that the EU’s position is to “cast a vote and not to object.” This would mean that the EU as a whole would de facto agree to the reform.
Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, and most recently, France had announced their intention to leave the ECT. Italy already left the charter in 2015.
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