This study examines the history and structure of EU’s ‘New Energy Policy’, which has been promoted by the European Commission since 2005.
First, the procedures for policy decisions at the EU was examined because the EU, as a consensual union of dozens of states, has unique characteristics in its policy decision processes. And then, the history of EU's ‘New Energy Policy’ will be scrutinized. The EU has published many policy documents (generally, ‘communication’ documents of European Commission) and energy legislative packages related to the ‘New Energy Policy’ since 2005. Reviewed in this study are relationships between New Energy Policy's ‘communication’ documents and legislative packages published since 2005.
Second, this paper conducts an evaluation of the structure of the ‘New Energy Policy’, which was found to be very well-structured, although the Policy was based on the existing policies of each energy-related sector. The three goals of the ‘New Energy Policy’ are sustainability, supply security, and competitiveness.
To achieve these goals, EU has developed energy policies both internal and external. The EU has also come up with the ‘20-20-20’ initiative (GHG Reduction/renewable energy/energy efficiency) and the policy of securing supplies of fossil fuels and nuclear energy. There is also a platform established so that EU may implement the two previous policies effectively. There are policies for creating a single energy market (especially for gas and electricity), energy technology development, and setting up financial instruments for the New Energy Policy.
As for the external policies, It will implement the ‘common’ policy for climate change, energy efficiency, and security of energy supply in spite of the structural weakness for the asserting power to the outside of EU.The EU also wants to install ‘market governance’ based on EU energy rules and Energy Charter Treaty in neighboring energy markets. Another external policy is to link the EU energy market to neighboring energy markets (except the current Russian energy market) through new gas and electricity networks.
Based on results of this study, it can be concluded that the ultimate goal of the ‘New Energy Policy’ of EU is to found a new world market that is based on EU's new energy technologies, which will be developed through the ‘New Energy Policy.’ This is the reason for the EU protecting its internal markets with energy efficiency policies for reducing greenhouse gas as stated in the New Energy Policy, so that EU can create a new single internal market for new industries based on energy technology development. The EU will attempt thereafter to apply the structure and rules of EU's internal market to the international market.
In short, EU wants to begin a new industrial revolution and create a new world market based on EU's low-carbon and high-efficiency energy technology.