FRANCE will leave the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), its government says, raising hopes that the notorious corporate pact could be torn up.

The 1998 treaty allows companies to sue governments whose policies reduce their profits, infamously allowing fossil fuel producers to take countries to court for attempting to limit climate change.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the decision late on Friday. Italy has already left and Spain, Poland and the Netherlands have announced their intentions to leave, meaning EU efforts to renegotiate the treaty could be scuppered by member states.