The European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (The Energy Charter Treaty) Order 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order declares the Energy Charter Treaty signed and provisionally applied from 17 December 1994 by the Communities, the Member States and many other states to be a Community Treaty as defined in section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972. The Energy Charter Treaty establishes a legal framework for long term co-operation in the energy field. This co-operation covers many aspects of energy including competition, transit of materials, transfer of technology and investment promotion measures. The principal effect of declaring this Treaty to be a Community Treaty as so defined is to bring into play in relation to it the provisions of section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972 which provides for the implementation of treaties so specified.