Can We Keep Up with Energy? : Energy Policy in the European Union During the 2011 Hungarian EU Presidency and at the Doorstep of 2024

Mernyei, Ákos (2024) Can We Keep Up with Energy? : Energy Policy in the European Union During the 2011 Hungarian EU Presidency and at the Doorstep of 2024. In: The 2024 Hungarian EU Presidency. Ludovika Egyetemi Kiadó, Budapest, pp. 251-272. ISBN 9789636530624; 9789636530617; 9789636530631

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Abstract

Energy is a cornerstone of modern societies. It surrounds us virtually in every minute. Our life can hardly be imagined in its absence. Nevertheless, one might have believed for long that energy stands at our disposal almost as certainly as the air does. Lately, however, the energy market shock has arisen due to international political and economic events proving that just the opposite is true: the mankind of the 21st century, our economies and societies are strongly vulnerable. It became obvious that the presence of energy is not only a question of financing, or to put it even simpler: a question of money, but it carries a fundamental issue of security of supply and consequently one of sovereignty. The respective issues are of cross-border nature – hence, many aspects are to be dealt with by the European Union as well. Accordingly, the energy policy plays a major role also in the European political arena. As a matter of fact, energy policy became one of the most prominent field of debates within the EU today. This study – after a brief historical introduction – discusses the results of the 2011 Hungary Presidency and reviews the most important challenges, which – either on the level of the EU or that of the member states – Europe, if it wants to preserve the security of energy supply of its nations, the competitiveness of its economy, as well as its very ability to take any kind of serious independent action in international politics, shall face in the near future.

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