EU is in position of world＇s largest energy importer and plays an active role in energy markets. Therefore, the EU＇s energy policy has not only local but also global effects. Because of the two oil crises in the 197...EU is in position of world＇s largest energy importer and plays an active role in energy markets. Therefore, the EU＇s energy policy has not only local but also global effects. Because of the two oil crises in the 1970＇s, energy has taken an important place in the EU＇s agenda and has become one of the EU＇s highest priorities as the part of the EU＇s goal of Single Market. Especially, the 1987 Single European Act followed by the goal of Single Market has come to dominate the idea of the necessity of having a single market for energy. A chapter about energy has been added into the letter of the 2009 Treaty of Lisbon for the first time, thus energy has gained a new dimension and has had a legal basis. However, although there are energy rules defined at European level, there are 28 national regulatory structures in practice. Therefore, an integrated energy market is needed to create more competition, to increase market efficiency through better use of energy generation facilities across the EU, to produce affordable prices for consumers, and to move as whole, not as 28 separate countries. In this regard, the idea of creation of the Energy Union has emerged and the European Commission has published a detailed action plan for the Energy Union on February 25, 2015. In this study, historical process of initiatives for the creation of common energy policy in the EU is analyzed and the future of Energy Union is discussed.展开更多
文摘EU is in position of world＇s largest energy importer and plays an active role in energy markets. Therefore, the EU＇s energy policy has not only local but also global effects. Because of the two oil crises in the 1970＇s, energy has taken an important place in the EU＇s agenda and has become one of the EU＇s highest priorities as the part of the EU＇s goal of Single Market. Especially, the 1987 Single European Act followed by the goal of Single Market has come to dominate the idea of the necessity of having a single market for energy. A chapter about energy has been added into the letter of the 2009 Treaty of Lisbon for the first time, thus energy has gained a new dimension and has had a legal basis. However, although there are energy rules defined at European level, there are 28 national regulatory structures in practice. Therefore, an integrated energy market is needed to create more competition, to increase market efficiency through better use of energy generation facilities across the EU, to produce affordable prices for consumers, and to move as whole, not as 28 separate countries. In this regard, the idea of creation of the Energy Union has emerged and the European Commission has published a detailed action plan for the Energy Union on February 25, 2015. In this study, historical process of initiatives for the creation of common energy policy in the EU is analyzed and the future of Energy Union is discussed.
