France to leave energy treaty criticized by climate groups

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN
Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron says France will become the latest European Union country to leave an energy agreement which climate groups claim is being used by the fossil fuel industry to legally challenge environmental measures. The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) entered into force in 1998 to protect foreign investment in the energy sector. Climate nongovernmental organizations have been calling for a mass EU withdrawal from the treaty. Italy has already quit the ECT while Spain and the Netherlands have also announced similar plans.