AMSTERDAM, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Greenpeace International

has filed a lawsuit against U.S. pipeline company Energy

Transfer ( ET ) in a Dutch court, the environmental group said

on Tuesday, adding it was the first test of a new European law

aimed at curbing lawsuits intended to silence rights activists.

Energy Transfer ( ET ) has been pressing lawsuits in the United

States against Greenpeace USA, Greenpeace International, and

other environmental groups since 2017, seeking $300 million in

damages for activists' attempts to block the Dakota Access

Pipeline project.

Greenpeace International said in a statement it would seek

to recover "all damages and costs it has suffered as a result of

ET's back-to-back, meritless lawsuits."

In 2024 the European Union passed rules aimed at helping

journalists, rights activists and public watchdogs defend

themselves against lawsuits intended to harass or silence them,

including by tying them up in expensive litigation.

Amsterdam-based Greenpeace International said it had filed

the suit with the District Court of Amsterdam. It was not

immediately clear whether EU and Dutch law would be applicable

in the case against Energy Transfer ( ET ).

Energy Transfer ( ET ) could not immediately be reached for

comment.