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         THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CHARTER
        CONSOLIDATED ENERGY CHARTER TREATY
                 with Related Documents
                 Last Updated: 15 January 2016
                                         FOREWORD
           The  Energy  Charter  Treaty  is  a  unique  instrument  for  the  promotion  of 
           international cooperation in the energy sector. The Treaty, which entered into 
           force on 16 April 1998, and its related documents, all set out in a consolidated 
           version in this booklet, provide an important legal and political basis for the 
           creation of an open international energy market.
           The Treaty was preceded by a political declaration, the European Energy Charter 
           adopted in The Hague on 17 December 1991. The European Energy Charter 
           contained a commitment to negotiate in good faith a legally binding Energy 
           Charter Treaty and Protocols. The International Energy Charter is a further 
           political declaration adopted and signed in The Hague on 20 May 2015. This 
           more recent political declaration reflects global modern energy challenges 
           and maps out common principles and areas of international cooperation in the 
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           field of energy for the 21  Century. As a result of the increased interest by the 
           international community the Energy Charter Process has expanded to involve 
           over 90 states from all continents.
           For many years the primary focus of the Contracting Parties was to ensure 
           full  implementation of the Treaty’s commitments. This entailed increased 
           multilateral cooperation over transit, trade, investments, dispute resolution 
           and energy efficiency. As global energy markets evolved, modernisation of 
           the Energy Charter Process became a major objective for the Energy Charter 
           constituency. Today there is a focus on the geographical expansion of the 
           Energy Charter Treaty. The Treaty is open for accession by all countries and 
           Regional  Economic  Integration  Organisations  (REIOs)  committed  to  the 
           observance of its principles of open and non-discriminatory energy markets. 
           Several countries are today engaged in the accession process to the Treaty. 
           Up-to-date information on the Energy Charter and its membership can be 
           found at http://www.energycharter.org/.
           There is recognition by all of the need to ensure that the Energy Charter Process 
           continues to build on its core principles while adapting to new challenges. 
           The Energy Charter stands ready to play a key role in international energy 
                              st
           governance in the 21  Century.
           Dr. Urban Rusnák 
           Secretary General 
           Energy Charter Secretariat 
           15 January 2016