Signing and provisional application of the European Energy Charter Treaty

The Commission proposed to the Council that it should sign and provisionally implement the European Energy Charter Treaty and to this end it submitted a proposal for a decision within the framework of the EC Treaty. The Commission felt that it would be in the Union's interests to sign this Treaty, taking into account both its growing dependence with regard to the supply of energy products, due in particular to the fall in coal production in Europe and the decrease in investments in the nuclear sector, and the need for economic cooperation between the Union and the countries of Eastern Europe. The European Energy Charter was approved by the representatives of 48 states and the EC on 17 December 1991 and its objectives included: improving security of supply, optimising the efficiency of energy production, processing, transport, distribution and use, improving safety and minimising environmental problems. �