The governance of the EU’s Energy Union : bridging the gap?

Abstract

The unique and idiosyncratic project of governance of the Energy Union is mainly a response to the 2030 renewables and energy efficiency targets which are not nationally binding. In this way, the new proposed governance model resembles the design of the Paris Agreement mechanisms to some degree. A divergence with the Paris Agreement is that the Energy Union governance model does not foresee any ratcheting up of targets. The EU’s long-standing experience in monitoring and accounting of greenhouse gas emissions – both its Union-wide target and national targets has been helpful. However, despite some clear corrective measures for the greenhouse gas emissions target, many of the Commission’s tools to address gaps remain in the realm of soft governance. More clarity is needed regarding some aspects of the Commission’s proposal. And a weakening of the proposed governance system may come mainly in the shape of member states pushing back on timing.