| Abstract [eng] |
Aim of the Master thesis was to evaluate EU energy policy that was implemented up to the present time and to analyze the positions of the main EU energy policy actors, discerning their interests and priorities given to the specific aspects of energy sector. The task set was to determine the factors and conditions that influence the harmonization of economic policy in the EU. Furthermore, to evaluate which of these factors accelerate and which block the integration of common EU energy policy. Liberal intergovernmentalism (LI) approach was chosen for the analysis. As LI supposes, interests of member states are most important in the context of the common energy policy. Member states keep the right of decision for this politics in their competence, as it is concerned with foreign policy of each country. The analysis shows that formally all member states agree with the main principles of EU energy policy. On the other hand most of their actions do not match the official rhetoric. The examples provided in the thesis concerned equivocal position of Germany due to the natural gas pipeline in the Baltic sea, also protectionism of French and Spanish governments and their unwillingness to admit the foreign capital in the national energy sector. Therefore it was concluded that national interests still have priority against the European policies. National governments experience pressure from two other groups of actors that are important in the course of the formulation of national interests. These actors are energy companies and foreign, non-EU, actors. Energy companies face ambiguity towards EU energy policy. On the one hand, common EU energy policy would mean simpler conditions for the businesses and also wider markets. On the other hand, most of these companies are so called „national champions“. With the implementation of the main principles of common EU energy policy, such as unbundling of the companies, means loss of their national benefits. Due to these additional new challenges, energy companies support common energy policy in the reserved way. The exemption is companies of the Great Britain that are already working in the highly liberalized market and seeks for the same conditions in all EU member states. As regards foreign policy actors, the most important of them is Russia that tries to weaken the solidarity of member states against energy issues and to further influence EU politics through energy sector. Russia actively promotes bilateral treaties with EU member states this way deepening cleavages among them. Equally important is the indirect influence of Russia through the Gazprom. At the moment, the long termed contracts are signed between Gazprom and Ruhrgas, GDF, ENI. This way energy companies become the active lobbyists of Gazprom interests. Last but not least, highly important are interests and activities of supranational actors – for example European Commission. Although it is one of the most active energy policy initiators, the competence of the European Commission in the energy policy field is limited and is mostly related with its competences in the EU competition policy. Lately European Commission tried to strengthen its position as the supranational actor. Still, European Commission faces opposition from member states, who considers energy policy of strategic importance for them. Moreover, as analysis shows, European Commission at the moment is not eager to confront member states and therefore has missed some opportunities to strengthen its position as independent actor. To sum up, European Commission has set a very ambitious aim to form a common EU energy policy by 2010. Nevertheless, the analysis of the interests of the main actors, concerning energy policy, and main challenges for this policy, in the Master thesis is concluded that it is not likely for the European Commission to fulfill its set goal during three coming year. Energy policy most likely will be implemented gradually in the longer run. |
