site.btaParliament Denounces Energy Charter Treaty

The Bulgarian Parliament adopted in a single sitting, at both first and second readings, a bill to denounce the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and the Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Related Environmental Aspects, which were signed in Lisbon on December 17, 1994. The bill, submitted by the Council of Ministers, was passed without debate.

The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is a multilateral trade and investment agreement governing the energy sector. The decision to withdraw Bulgaria as a party to the treaty is based on the ECT's incompatibility with the European Union's energy and climate objectives, as well as with modern standards for investment protection.

According to the report of the relevant parliamentary committee, on January 30, 2026, the European Commission sent Bulgaria a formal letter of notice initiating infringement proceedings over the country's failure to fulfill its obligation to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty.