Author Description

This timely book shows how the creation of a European Energy Union might be an effective and viable solution to the energy security problems that the European Union (EU) is facing. The aim is to make it easier to trade energy inside the EU. The EU currently has to rely on energy-rich countries for its energy needs, many of whom are politically nd economically unstable. This places the EU in a vulnerable position. The book explores the institutional and legal framework for the creation of a European Energy Union, whose aim is to achieve affordable, secure and sustainable energy. The book explores what the EU is politically prepared to accept as part of its uni? ed energy security. Combined with the perception of energy security being a pressing matter, the general disenchantment surrounding the European ideal in the wake of the economic crisis makes the task of ensuring affordable, secure and sustainable energy a formidable challenge.This book proposes the emulation of the EU's common commercial policy to reach a common position in EU energy policy. It analyzes the role of the Energy Community and the Euro-Mediterra-nean Energy Partnership as avenues to further integrate energy markets beyond European borders, especially with the Eastern and Southern neighbors of the EU. It also dwells on the advance-ments that could arise in terms of pan-European energy infrastructure through the anticipated? nan-cial boost resulting from, inter alia, the Investment Plan for Europe, the European Structural and Investment funds, and the Connecting Europe Facility. Finally, it provides an analysis of climate change mitigation by focusing on the importance of decarbonizing the economy and analyzing the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.