The fossil energy company Energy Transfer (ET) has sued a Greenpeace EE.UU. y It requires 300 million dollars for damage by “incite”The protests led by Sioux indigenous in standing rock (North Dakota) against the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline of the oil company. Kelcy Warren, founder and CEO of Energy Transfer, is one of President Donald Trump’s main donors.
Greenpeace International will test the efficiency of the Directiva Anti-Patch (strategic demands against public participation) of the European Union presenting today A claim before a Dutch court against the American fossil fuel pipelines company Energy Transfer (ET).
Greenpeace International seeks reparation for all the damages and costs that it is suffering as a result of the consecutive and foundation demands of the fossil company, what demands hundreds of millions of dollars against the offices of Greenpeace International and Greenpeace United States.
“At a crucial moment of threats to democracy, science and activism, with denialism campaigning to its wide and Donald Trump determined to reverse the steps taken so far in the defense of the planet, Greenpeace USA has a fundamental role, y Fossil fuel companies, which finance the new US president.They know. Oil companies like Energy Transfer are using legal tactics as a weapon to silence anyone who fights for a fair, green and peace: Strategic demands against public participation (SLAPP).
Energy Transfer wants to push organizations such as Greenpeace to bankruptcy and, ultimately, silence dissent
Like all SLAPP, energy transfer demands have been an attempt to bury social organizations and activists in judicial coasts, push them to bankruptcy and, ultimately, silence dissentsuppress freedom of expression and limit people’s power. But we are not going to make it easy: they will not shut us up, ”said Eva Saldaña, executive director of Greenpeace Spain.
“The pending demand of 300 million dollars of Energy Transfer against Greenpeace International, simply for signing an open letter along with more than 500 people, is one of the most shaken SLAPP worldwide. This makes it a good case to test the new EU Anti-Slapp directive. If we win, a message will be sent to corporate stalkers that the era of impunity is coming to an end. This would mean an impulse for civil society in the EU and aim for solutions for those fighting the phenomenon SLAPP elsewhere “, explains Daniel Simons, the main legal legal Greenpeace International.
Since 2017, the offices of Greenpeace International and Greenpeace USA have been defended from the blatant demands of Energy Transfer, presented following the indigenous protests of 2016 against its Dakota Access pipeline, which the company states that they were orchestrated by Greenpeace.
The first demand for Energy Transfer appeared in a federal court under the rich law (Law of Corrupt Organizations and influenced by Organized Crime), a US Federal Statute designed to process mafia activity.
The case was dismissed, and the judge declared that the evidence was “very insufficient” to establish a rich company. The company quickly presented a new case recycling similar arguments in a state court in Dakota del Norte, now packaged as demands for defamation, conspiracy and other grievances.
The jury trial is scheduled to begin on February 24. North Dakota lacks anti-flap legislation, and Greenpeace defendants would not recover all costs after a victory, an issue that the current demand aims to address for Greenpeace International.
In the words of Emma Bergmans, member of the Case Steering Committee and Main Policies and Defense Advisor of Free Press Unlimited: “This case is a crucial step in the fight against Slapp. For too long, powerful corporations have used abusive demands to silence critics and leave civil society organizations without resources. When invoking the Directiva Anti-Patch of the UE, Greenpeace International Not only does he defend herself, but also feel a precedent that could protect activists, journalists and defenders around the world. A victory in this case would send a powerful signal: Slapp will not be unpunished, and those who use the legal system as a weapon to repress the dissent will have to realizes”.
EU Anti-Slapp directive
Based in the Netherlands, Greenpeace International cites Dutch legislation on grievances and rights abuse, as well as chapter V of the EU directive, adopted in 2024, which Protects organizations based in the EU against SLAPP outside the EU and entitles them to compensation.
The directive, together with current Dutch legislation, paves the way for GPI to take legal actions against three entities of the Energy Business Group, specifically Energy Transfer LP, Energy Transfer Operating LP and Dakota Access LLC, for the damages it has suffered and continues to suffer as a consequence of SLAPP demands and related actions in Of.u.
Greenpeace International sent Energy to transfer a notice of responsibility in July 2024, locating it to withdraw its demand in the North Dakota and pay damage and damages, or face legal actions. Energy Transfer refused to do it.
The EU Anti-Slapp directive It enters into force in the midst of improper use of legal systems by the fossil fuel industry to attack environmental control agencies and any criticism, as part of a broader tendency to increase SLAPP.
A report of the Coalition against Slapp in Europe (Case) document 1,049 SLAPP demands in Europe in the period 2010-2023with 166 demands initiated in 2023.
The great Shell, Total and ENI oil companies have also presented Slapp against Greenpeace offices in recent years, and the attempts of Shell and total for silencing them have ended in nothing.