This book discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the European Union’s climate and energy policy.
By examining the positions of the various actors involved, the book analyses whether the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine has contributed to greater unity, decarbonisation, and security of energy supply, and if not, whether these crises prompted member states to turn inwards and opt for national solutions to climate and energy challenges. It thus provides a new outlook for EU energy policy in relation to the experience of the two crises.
This book will be of key interest to scholars, students and practitioners of climate and energy policy, energy security, EU policy, and more broadly to energy politics, European integration and European Union governance.
Introduction Part 1: EU Energy Transition at a Crossroads 1. European Green Deal: Creeping Supranationalism in the EU Governance? 2. What does EU energy policy mean to you? Regional differences in EU citizens’ sentiments on energy transition – socio-economic, political and environmental factors 3. Role of the regions in climate and energy policy: Insight from Visegrad countries 4. In Rosatom’s shadow: The uncertain role of nuclear in energy transition of Central and Eastern Europe Part 2: Russian Invasion and European Energy Security 5. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its impact on the energy cooperation of Visegrad Group countries 6. Russia’s gas weapon in Central and Eastern Europe: Diverging responses from three friendly states 7. Energy Transition at Gunpoint? 8. Structural Development of the Slovak Economy and the Impact on the Production of Emissions 9. A quantitative assessment of energy security in EU member states following Covid-19 and the energy crisis Part 3: Renewables as Energy Security Tools 10. Wind energy in Poland – a successful restart or another false start? 11. Nativist framing of energy issues in times of crises across the Slovak political spectrum. Conclusion: A decarbonised, secure, and united EU?
Matúš Mišík is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia. Andrea Figulová is Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences at Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia.