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Economic and Social Committee Opinion on the Energy Charter Treaty

On 26 October 1995, the Economic and Social Committee (ESC) unanimously adopted an "own-initiative" Opinion on the Energy Charter Treaty. The Energy Charter Treaty, which creates the legal framework for international cooperation in the field of energy, has so far been signed ...

On 26 October 1995, the Economic and Social Committee (ESC) unanimously adopted an "own-initiative" Opinion on the Energy Charter Treaty. The Energy Charter Treaty, which creates the legal framework for international cooperation in the field of energy, has so far been signed by 49 countries and by the European Communities. Although the ESC recognizes that the Energy Charter Treaty is undoubtedly one of the EU's major international successes, it is of the opinion that it is not yet time for the Union to "sit back and rest on our achievements". In particular it stresses the need to ensure that Russia ratifies the Treaty. As the ESC sees it, Russian ratification is not only vital to the ultimate success of the Treaty, it is also of major importance for Russia's own efforts to modernize its economy and establish itself as a stable democracy. In energy relations between Europe and the Mediterranean countries, the Committee urged the EU to make a sustained effort to ensure that these countries are in a position to pursue the objectives of the Treaty. As far as nuclear energy is concerned, the ESC suggests broadening the scope of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Nuclear Safety Convention. This would have the effect of uniting under one roof all minimum international safety standards. In the past, these have been spread out over two different international agreements. The Committee also strongly recommends that the Supplementary Treaty should stipulate the need for good industrial relations in the enterprises and activities to which the Treaty applies.