The headquarters of Flemish nationalist party N-VA and the offices of Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister Hadja Lahbib (MR) in Brussels were targeted by climate activists on Monday morning, who were protesting their support of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT).
The treaty signed in 1991 now includes 51 countries. It was designed to protect and secure energy investments but has been used in recent years by the fossil fuel industry seeking compensation from states that limit their activities to promote the energy transition.
As a result, several European countries have recently hinted at withdrawing from the ECT, the latest being Germany. This has led to efforts to 'modernise' the treaty, with a reform to be voted on 22 November.
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At around 07:30, climate activists stuck posters on facades and windows of both Lahbib and N-VA's offices in the capital, "to denounce their positions in favour of the ECT". Both parties support reforming the treaty rather than Belgium leaving it altogether.
