Introduction

The fundamental objective of the Energy Charter Treaty's provisions on investment issues is to ensure the creation of a "level playing field" for energy sector investments throughout the Charter's constituency, with the aim of reducing to a minimum the non-commercial risks associated with energy-sector investments. The Treaty ensures the protection of foreign energy investments based on the principle of non-discrimination. By accepting the Treaty, a state takes on the obligation to extend national treatment, or most-favoured nation treatment (whichever is more favourable), to ...