The Enabling Law has been in effect for 6 months; however, less than 25% of the laws to be enacted according to it have been passed. There are another six months to go and the Cabinet must work overtime to discuss, complete and enact important legislation in relevant areas such as finance, public administration, decentralization, and international contracting.
Energy
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Chapter Eight of President Bush’s National Energy Plan recommends the completion of negotiations of a Bilateral Investment Protection Treaty to improve the energy investment climate for the increased energy investment flows between Venezuela and the United States. Venezuelan petroleum experts reacted with a certain degree of concern but also some relief at President George W. Bush's new US energy policy. The concern stemmed from Bush's indication that the United States will look more at neighboring Canada and Mexico to meet increasing domestic energy demand. The relief was derived from the fact that Venezuela was
