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
EU wants battery autonomy, but first it needs graphite
The European Union has launched an ambitious new project to produce its own graphite as it seeks to become a leader in next-generation batteries
EU’s ‘unnecessary’ gas splurge threatens climate goals: analysis
Europe is set to spend more than 100 billion euros on natural gas infrastructure, but a new study suggests this could imperil the continent’s climate goals
Electric shock: could Brexit scar Britain’s energy landscape?
Britain's exit from the EU has sparked fears of disruption to its electricity market, amid fears of higher bills, power cuts and stalled de-carbonisation efforts
Germany looks to step up coal exit timetable
Germany has promised to speed up its exit from coal power generation and to pay operators compensation in a strategy instantly rejected by environmental campaigners
US sanctions push Nord Stream 2 contractor to halt pipeline work
The United States has imposed sanctions against Nord Stream 2, a natural gas pipeline project between Russia and Europe. The contracting company has, therefore, announced it was halting all work on the project.
Germany reaches 100 bn euro climate plan deal as protests heat up
German Chancellor Merkel's government reaches a deal on a broad climate plan for the country that commits at least 100 billion euros by 2030 to environmental protection