European Energy Politics

In this timely book, Marco Siddi expertly navigates topics of European energy politics, drawing on pressing issues from times of unprecedented crisis. From the war in Ukraine to worsening climate change, he illustrates the intense pressure the EU is under to accelerate its green transition, and explores the potential obstacles that may arise on the road to energy security.Siddi provides a wealth of critical analysis on the rise and decline of EU-Russia energy relations; the nature of the EU’s actorness in both domestic and external energy policy; and the opportunities and challenges of the energy transition for the European continent. The geopolitical consequences of the energy transition are adeptly examined, and the book highlights the critical need for the EU to adopt well-calibrated policies and develop multidimensional international partnerships to obtain access to key supply chains and promote a just global energy transition.With a comprehensive and thorough analysis of contemporary EU energy policy, this book will prove essential to academics and students interested in international relations, energy policy, regulation and governance, European politics and public policy. It will also be a vital resource to practitioners and diplomats working on energy and climate issues in national ministries, European union institutions, and diverse international organisations.

‘This is a fascinating study, which juxtaposes two major factors that have shaped the EU’s energy policy recently: the increasing salience of environmental concerns, which shaped the EU’s Green Deal, and the evolving pattern of the EU’s relations with its previously major supplier Russia. The book is strongly recommended to anyone who is interested in the complexity of the EU's energy policy and its current evolution.’, ‘This book makes it explicit how profoundly different the EU energy policies of the 2020s are compared to the previous decade, documenting how and why the Union's long-standing relations with Russia came to an end. This will be important to keep in mind in the years to come once EU Member States establish relations with potential hydrogen suppliers.’, ‘A very timely book that offers a fresh and compelling perspective on the evolving EU energy and climate policies in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Through in-depth, acute analysis, Marco Siddi charts the evolution of energy relations between the EU and Russia and convincingly shows the key role that Europe can play in the global green transition.’, ‘The book provides a comprehensive look back at European energy policy, explaining how we reached the present moment. Such an understanding is critical to chart a path forward, away from dependence on Russian fossil fuels and through the interdependencies of the new energy era.’

Marco Siddi, Montalcini Assistant Professor, Department of Political and Social Science, University of Cagliari, Italy and Senior Research Fellow, Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Helsinki, Finland