[The text reproduced was supplied by the Secretariat of the Energy Charter Conference (tel: 32.2.2961246; fax: 2966261). The Introductory Note was provided by Thomas W. Walde, Professor of International Investment, Petroleum & Mineral Law and Executive Director, Centre for Petroleum/Mineral Law & Policy, University of Dundee. The author acted as principal adviser on EU-sponsored activities to discuss the implications of the Treaty to CIS countries (Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgysztan), but his note represents solely the personal and academic views of the author. An International Energy Agency Guide to the ECT is noted at 34 I.L.M. 594 (1995).

[At Lisbon, December 16-17, 1994, 46 countries signed at least one of the three instruments. They are listed at 34 I.L.M. 593 (1995). At the Second Provisional Conference in Brussels, April 5 and 6, 1995, the Conference Chairman announced that Hungary, Lithuania and Uzbekistan had signed the Final Act, Treaty and Protocol. To date, Canada and the United States have not signed any of the three instruments.

[The U.S. Government has remarked that the current text of the ECT does not provide for the same level of multilateral investment protection as have U.S. bilateral investment instruments. For this reason, the U.S. has refrained from signing the ECT. The United States Statement on the European Energy Charter Treaty appears at 34 I.L.M. 556 (1995).]