Changing conceptions of climate and energy security in Europe

摘要

The ways in which energy and security have been framed in Brussels since the early days of the European Coal and Steel Community through to recent developments in climate policy are considered, with a main focus upon the European Commission, which prepares policy for decision by the Council and Parliament. Both in terms of institutions and ideas, energy, security, and environmental policy have evolved separately. However, since 2005, there has been a growing convergence as the Commission attempts to develop the internal and external dimensions of EU climate policy. The reasons for this and the potential implications of such a 'synergistic' approach are briefly explored.