This paper illuminates the relevance of European Union (EU) Energy Law and the responsibilities of States, companies and energy regulators in the EU. This relevance will be mainly in the light of EU regulations and packages, but also international Conventions applying to European actors will be tackled in this paper. First of all, the beginnings of the EU and why energy, especially coal and steel, played such a massive role from the very first start, will be pointed out. Secondly, the legal bases of EU Energy Law in force nowadays will be discussed and explained. Moreover, Energy Law is one of the rare areas where law, economy, politics, and more and more ecological affairs are rearranging the system. Thus, it will be referred to as the growing link between Energy law and Environmental policies and concerns.
Last but not least, attention will be drawn to the fact that many European Energy Companies operate outside of the EU for the exploitation of resources and how accountability is triggered on the territory of the European Union in the case of an accident happening outside of Europe. Therefore, the case of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as the responsible company Beyond Petroleum (BP) is a British multinational business, with headquarters in London, will be briefly examined. To a greater extent, the primary intention of this paper is to generate a broader understanding of EU Energy Law and the necessity to secure and regulate it in order to safeguard our environment in a future of renewable energy sources.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.
- II. INTRODUCTION.
- III. A DEFINITION OF ENERGY.
- IV. ENERGY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION...
- V. LEGAL BASES OF EU ENERGY LAW...
- VI. EU ENERGY LAW AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
- 1. THE LINK BETWEEN EU ENERGY LAW AND THE ENVIRONMENT
- 2. EU CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY & LONG-TERM CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY CONCERNING EU ENERGY LAW....
- A. EFFICIENT ENERGY
- B. ENERGY SECURITY.
- C. THE INTERNAL MARKET.
- D. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND COMPETITIVENESS.
- E. THE DECARBONIZATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
- 3. SECURE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
- 4. CLEAN AND EFFICIENT ENERGY
- ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
- RENEWABLE ENERGY.
- VII. INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS APPLYING TO EUROPEAN ACTORS
- 7. THE ENERGY CHARTER TREATY
- 8. THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CHARTER.
- VIII. EUROPEAN ENERGY COMPANIES OPERATING OUTSIDE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
- IX. CONCLUSION.
- X. BIBLIOGRAPHY.
- XI. INDEX OF LAW
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to shed light on the significance of European Union (EU) Energy Law and the responsibilities of States, companies, and energy regulators within the EU. It will analyze this relevance primarily through EU regulations and packages, but also delve into international conventions applicable to European actors. The paper will examine the origins of the EU and explore the crucial role energy, particularly coal and steel, played in its early development. It will then proceed to discuss and explain the current legal framework of EU Energy Law. Additionally, it will explore the increasing interlinkage between Energy Law and environmental policies and concerns, highlighting the complex interplay of law, economy, politics, and ecology in this field.
- The importance of EU Energy Law in the context of EU regulations and international conventions.
- The historical role of energy, particularly coal and steel, in the formation and development of the European Union.
- The current legal basis of EU Energy Law.
- The growing connection between EU Energy Law and environmental policies and concerns.
- The responsibilities of States, companies, and energy regulators in the EU energy sector.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper begins with a definition of energy, emphasizing its intangible nature and its importance for modern life and economies. It then delves into the historical context of the European Union, tracing the origins of the ECSC and the critical role of coal and steel in post-World War II reconstruction and the pursuit of a peaceful future. The chapter on legal bases of EU energy law discusses the foundational legal framework governing the sector. The subsequent chapter explores the intricate link between EU energy law and environmental policies, encompassing EU climate change policies, energy efficiency, energy security, the internal market, research and development, and the decarbonization of the environment. The paper also examines international conventions applicable to European actors, including the Energy Charter Treaty and the International Energy Charter. Finally, the paper considers the responsibilities of European energy companies operating outside the EU, using the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as a case study to illustrate the consequences of accidents in international contexts.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The paper focuses on key concepts related to EU energy law, including environmental policies, climate change, energy security, sustainable energy, energy efficiency, renewable energy, international conventions, and the responsibilities of European companies operating globally. It also delves into the historical development of the European Union, emphasizing the role of coal and steel in the early years.
- Quote paper
- Julia Hoser (Author), 2020, The obligations of states and companies' in the field of European Energy Law, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1274027
