| Abstract [eng] |
This work analyses EU legislation aimed at the development and strengthening of the sustainable energy sector, as well as the practices of EU Member States in implementing sustainable energy goals, with the aim of identifying emerging challenges and ways to address them. A historical analysis shows that energy has been a key area of EU policy since the very beginning of the EU’s formation, developed in a piecemeal fashion for a long time, and shaped more rapidly during periods of crisis. With the Lisbon Treaty establishing the legal framework for the EU energy sector, fundamental energy policy objectives were set, including sustainability. The work analyses EU legal acts and the practical challenges faced by the EU and its Member States in implementing sustainable energy goals. Among the emerging challenges are the search for a balance in the distribution of competences between the EU and the member states, the slowdown in the transposition of EU legal provisions due to the impact of geopolitical crises on the energy sector, the unequal financial and technological capabilities of Member States, and the differing interests, domestic policies, and geographical characteristics of Member States. The work also examines the status of Lithuania’s progress toward achieving its sustainability goals, highlighting both the progress made and the challenges faced in implementing the EU’s climate and energy targets. The analysis conducted suggests that although the EU has established a comprehensive legal and policy framework for achieving sustainable energy goals, their implementation remains complex due to geopolitical, economic and technological factors. Case law reveals the challenges involved in harmonising the EU’s sustainability goals, the development of energy sector infrastructure, and the consistency of the decision-making process. Therefore, to ensure an effective clean energy transition, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation among Member States, purposefully increase investment in innovation and advanced technologies, and ensure consistent and long-term EU energy regulation based on science and experience. |
