If a government gives a company permission to drill for oil in a certain area, the government should not revoke it. If it does, it should compensate the company for financial losses. That is how the rule of law works -- which the author opposes:<p>"The energy charter treaty started as an EU agreement in 1991 which guaranteed legal safeguards for companies invested in energy projects such as offshore oil rigs. Under Article 10 (1) of the treaty, these investments must “enjoy the most constant protection and security”. If government policies change in order to curtail these projects, such as Italy’s 2019 decision to ban drilling for oil and gas within 12 miles of its coast, the government is obliged to compensate the relevant company for its lost future earnings."