The Security Of Energy Supply In The European Union

Open discussion invited by the European Commission on energy supply and security.

This book examines the latest developments of the European Union's energy policy and, particularly, the way security of its energy supply is taken into account and handled. As one of the three objectives of the EU energy policy, the security of supply emerged as a central element of the policy, following the January 2009 gas crisis and now with the consequences of the Fukushima events. The contributions to the book analyze the extensive developments toward energy security, the impact of the third internal market package on its reinforcement, and the major role to be played by infrastructures in physically ensuring the security of supply. It discusses the most recent and relevant instruments adopted by the European Union in the fields of oil (the so-called oil stocks directive) and gas (the regulation on security of gas supply). In the field of electricity, the book reports on the experience of the transmission system operators working together in the European Network (ENTSO-E) to guara

In economic, technical and political terms, the security of energy supply is of the utmost importance for Europe. Alongside competition and sustainability, supply security represents a cornerstone of the EU s energy policy, and in times of rising geopolitical conflict plays an increasingly important role in its external relations. Within this context, the contributors analyse and explore the natural gas, nuclear, and hydrogen energy sectors, which will be of critical significance for the future of energy supplies in Europe. The book opens with an extensive exploration of the very definition of supply security and moves beyond sector-specific debates to highlight the political sensitivity surrounding energy security. The expert contributors apply a policy perspective, underpinned by theoretical discussion, to economic analysis in order to yield policy-relevant conclusions. They illustrate that the EU lacks a coherent transnational energy policy, that national energy policies fail to match EU goals and that, ultimately, sustainable energy policies, more competition, and better regulation will improve global welfare. Academics and EU policymakers both at national and international levels will find that the topical policy recommendations, extensive overview of supply security, and detailed perspectives on the natural gas, nuclear and hydrogen sectors presented herewith constitute an invaluable reference and research tool.

Energy security is a burning issue in a world where 1.4 billion people still have no access to electricity. This book is about finding solutions for energy security through the international trading system. Focusing mainly on the European Union as a case study, this holistic and comprehensive analysis of the existing legal and geopolitical instruments strives to identify the shortcomings of the international and EU energy trade governance systems, concluding with the notion of a European Energy Union and what the EU is politically prepared to accept as part of its unified energy security.

Recent developments like the rising trend in crude oil price, the international economic crisis, the civil revolts in Northern Africa and the Middle East, the nuclear threat in Japan after the tsunami, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the economic growth of emerging countries like China and India have a direct relation to the security of energy supply anywhere in the world. This book provides a comprehensive analysis of energy risks, energy scenarios and energy policies with special reference to the European Union and its member states, emphasizing the economic and geopolitical dimensions of energy security. The book assesses both quantitatively and qualitatively the socioeconomic and political risks related to the European energy supply, together with the EU’s energy relations with other countries. Two innovative indicators have been developed to estimate geopolitical energy risks and energy-related relations with other countries. The book also examines the process of convergence of member states’ energy security policies, the path towards a common European energy policy, and the process of Europeanization projected towards the energy corridors through which the EU receive energy imports. In addition, alternative strategic scenarios related to energy risk are assessed. Finally, guidelines for the EU’s energy policy and new strategies using energy corridors are suggested in order to maximize EU’s energy security. The book should be of interest to students and researchers across a wide range of subjects, including energy economics and policy, energy and foreign policy in the EU, energy policies in EU member states and several aspects related to international political economy.

​As energy is becoming one of the crucial concerns in the EU, this volume provides an in-depth analysis and interdisciplinary perspective on European energy security. Given the multidimensional nature of energy security in terms of physical availability, affordability and geopolitical security, it brings together authors from different backgrounds pursuing a distinctly multidisciplinary approach. The authors' different perspectives correspond to the three sections of the book: international relations, which focuses on Eastern EU partners; energy economics, which highlights the current unconventional hydrocarbons revolution and its impact on EU energy and climate strategies; and public policy, which analyzes EU policies in the context.

La 4e de couverture indique : "Since the introduction a quarter-century ago of market-based investments in the production of electricity and other critical services, our awareness of the underlying issues affecting the supply and consumption of energy has changed radically. No longer can Europe (or any region) rely on over-capacity of electricity generation and inexpensive primary energy fuels, or disregard the signs of potentially catastrophic climate change. The author of this timely and sharply focused book shows that, in the light of our current knowledge, ensuring new investments - and the right investments - in electricity generation constitutes an urgent energy policy challenge facing the EU over the coming decades. He accordingly makes the case for a serious reconsideration of the market facilitation and market intervention rules under electricity market legislation in the EU. In the first detailed legal analysis of the EU's internal electricity market framework for investments in electricity generation facilities from the perspective of security of supply, this book cover such legal issues as the following in precise detail : applicability of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) ; security of supply as a ground for exemption on the basis of public security ; justifications of public intervention ; the applicability of EU State aid provisions to investments in energy security ; requirements imposed by EU law on Member States for ensuring cost-efficient investments in European supply security ; facilitation of renewable energy sources and cogeneration in the environmental interest ; the Court of Justice's approach to Member State interventions ; the Court's decisions on restrictions on free movement in the environmental interest ; Member States' right to launch tendering procedures for new generation capacity ; Member States' right to impose public service obligations in the general economic interest on certain undertakings ; and relationship between the provisions of the TFEU and those of the Euratom Treaty in relation to investments in nuclear power generation. Throughout the study, in addition to his analysis of the decisions of the Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance, the author takes into account legal literature and Union reports, preparatory works, and working papers. The book demonstrates convincingly that today's energy supply challenges must be based on a broader balancing of security, competitiveness and sustainability interests. It suggests that the internal electricity market provisions of the Electricity Directive and the Security of Electricity Supply Directive would benefit from focusing more intensely on requiring investments in technologies and primary energy sources that will help mitigate climate change and reduce European energy import dependency, and less on the need for ensuring cost-efficient investments through market-based means. Through its detailed analysis of EU law in an area of great significance to both market participants and the public sector, Investing in EU Energy Security will be welcomed by legal advisors, whether working for the EU electricity industry or public agencies responsible for implementation of internal electricity market measures, as well as by academics in this hugely important field of current research."