The European Union in its present-day form is the result of various associations of individual states such as the ECSC and the EEC. These organisations were founded in the 1950s, in part to enable the production and trading of energy under common sets of rules. However, a truly coherent energy policy did not emerge until 2007 when the European Energy Strategy was first adopted. Current challenges include issues such as climate change and energy efficiency, the dependence on fossil fuel imports, the energy transition or the return of the US to fossil fuels.
Energy
The journey from a coal union to the energy transition
Petrol prices in Europe
The graphic shows how petrol prices have developed from May to September 2022 in some countries in Europe.
How does the EU plan to cut energy bills?
The European Commission has set out proposals to bring down the soaring price of gas and electricity in the EU, notably by taxing excess profits of power producers.
EU plans ‘comprehensive reform’ of electricity market
The EU plans a "deep and comprehensive" reform of the electricity market to cope with an energy crisis sparked by Russia's war in Ukraine, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has said.
Europe electricity prices soar as tough winter looms
European electricity prices have soared to new records, presaging a bitter winter as Russia's invasion of Ukraine inflicts economic pain across the continent.
Europe tries to save energy ahead of winter
European Union nations are launching power saving drives as they seek to reign in soaring gas and electricity bills and conserve ever-more scarce resources following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Nord Stream 1: Russian pipeline leaving Europe on edge
For over a decade, the Nord Stream 1 pipeline reliably shipped natural gas from Russia to Europe -- until the war in Ukraine sent tensions soaring.