Energy Charter Treaty

31 European Energy Charter Title II: Implementation In order to attain the objectives set out above, the signatories will, within the framework of State sovereignty and sovereign rights over energy resources, take coordinated action to achieve greater coherence of energy policies, which should be based on the principle of non-discrimination and on market-oriented price formation, taking due account of environmental concerns. They underline that practical steps to define energy policies are necessary in order to intensify cooperation in this sector and further stress the importance of regular exchanges of views on action taken, taking full advantage of the experience of existing international organisations and institutions in this field. The signatories recognise that commercial forms of cooperation may need to be complemented by intergovernmental cooperation, particularly in the area of energy policy formulation and analysis as well as in areas which are essential and not suitable to private capital funding. They undertake to pursue the objectives of creating a broader European energy market and enhancing the efficient functioning of the global energy market by joint or coordinated action under the Charter in the following fields: - access to and development of energy resources; - access to markets; - liberalisation of trade in energy; - promotion and protection of investments; - safety principles and guidelines; - research, technological development, innovation and dissemination; - energy efficiency and environmental protection; - education and training. In implementing this joint or coordinated action, they undertake to foster private initiative, to make full use of the potential of enterprises, institutions and all available financial sources, and to facilitate cooperation between such enterprises or institutions from different countries, acting on the basis of market principles. The signatories will ensure that the international rules on the protection of industrial, commercial and intellectual property are respected.