International Energy Charter (IEC)

General information

· The International Energy Charter (IEC), signed in 2015, is a political declaration aimed at strengthening energy cooperation among the signatory countries. The objective of the IEC is to promote energy security by developing open and competitive energy markets, while taking into account sustainable development and sovereignty over energy resources. The International Energy Charter does not create any legal or financial obligations.

· In accordance with the procedures stipulated in the Energy Charter Treaty, the modernised text of the Energy Charter Treaty was adopted at the 35th Energy Charter Conference held in Brussels on 3 December 2024.On 28 June 2025, the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community officially withdrew from the Energy Charter Treaty.

· Since September 2021, Atsuko Hirose has served as Deputy Secretary General of the Energy Charter Secretariat, and since 13 February 2024, she has been performing the duties of the Secretary General. At the extraordinary session of the Energy Charter Conference held on 18 September 2025, Atsuko Hirose (Japan) was reappointed as Deputy Secretary General for another four-year term.

Cooperation with Azerbaijan

Within the framework of Phase I (2016–2020) of the EU4Energy Project, with the support of the Energy Charter Secretariat, a draft law on the Efficient Use of Energy Resources and Energy Efficiency” and the Roadmap on Eco-design and Labelling Regulations were prepared.

The Law “On the Efficient Use of Energy Resources and Energy Efficiency” entered into force on 1 July 2022. The Rules on the Labelling of Energy-Related Products were approved by Resolution No. 432 of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 6 December 2022, and the Eco-design Requirements for Energy-Consuming or Energy-Related Products were approved by Resolution No. 63 of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 20 February 2023.

· On 27 February 2023, at the headquarters of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, the Netherlands, Azerbaijan initiated arbitration proceedings against Armenia, seeking compensation on the grounds of Armenia’s multiple violations of the provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty and the principles of international law. In its notice of arbitration, Azerbaijan drew the attention of the Permanent Court of Arbitration to the violations by Armenia of Azerbaijan’s sovereign rights over energy resources located in the Karabakh region, an internationally recognised territory of Azerbaijan that had been under Armenia’s illegal occupation for nearly 30 years, thereby failing to fulfil its international obligations.

· On 19 November 2024, within the framework of the Energy Charter Treaty and in accordance with the fundamental principles of international law, the Government of Azerbaijan submitted its Statement of Claim to the Permanent Court of Arbitration against Armenia, detailing multiple violations by Armenia of Azerbaijan’s sovereign rights over its energy resources.

On 24.10.2019, the International Energy Charter forum was held in Baku jointly organized by the Ministry of Energy and the Energy Charter Secretariat.

On 28 October 2020, the Baku International Energy Charter Forum was held in a videoconference format, jointly organised by the Ministry of Energy and the International Energy Charter, and chaired by Azerbaijan.

On 17 December 2020, the 31st session of the Energy Charter Conference was held in a videoconference format under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan.

On 3 June 2025, within the framework of the Baku Energy Forum, Deputy Energy Minister Orkhan Zeynalov met with Atsuko Hirose, Deputy Secretary General of the Energy Charter Secretariat.