EGOn5001 Energy Policy of the EU

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2026
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Filip Černoch, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Filip Černoch, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites
(! EGO423 Energy Policy of the EU )&&(! EUP431 Energy Policy of the EU )&&(! ESS404 Energy Policy of the EU )&&(! ESSn4004 Energy Policy of the EU )&&!NOWANY( EGO423 Energy Policy of the EU , EUP431 Energy Policy of the EU , ESS404 Energy Policy of the EU , ESSn4004 Energy Policy of the EU )
Knowledge of the basics of European Studies, i.e. European institutions, decision-making, and a basic overview of the content of European policies is assumed.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract

The course focuses on European energy policy. It analyses how political processes within the EU shape and apply legal, financial, and regulatory instruments to organise energy production, transmission, and consumption.

First, energy is closely linked to the issue of climate change: fossil fuels are the main cause of the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere and the EU's efforts to address this challenge are directly linked to a profound re-design of the energy mix. In the EU today, energy policy can no longer be separated from climate policy. Secondly, energy availability and prices have a major impact on the competitiveness of European industry and the living standards of the population. Thirdly, high import dependency links energy with external relations, diplomacy and security policy - this has been clearly demonstrated in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The course covers all three of these dimensions and their diplomatic, environmental, security, economic, technical and social implications. On successful completion, students will understand the balance of political power between EU Member States and institutions, the long-term interests of the main actors, and the legal and regulatory framework through which the EU shapes its energy sector. They will also gain an overview of specific energy and climate measures and the direction in which the EU energy sector is evolving.

Learning outcomes
Students will be introduced to the main theoretical concepts, actors, historical development, and current problems in all three abovementioned dimensions. By the end of the course, they will be able to analyse relevant issues using appropriate analytical tools and valid data.
Key topics
Course structure - Historical development of the European Energy Policy (EEP): ECSC, Euratom, energy crises in the 1970s, beginnings of environmental policy and market liberalisation in the 1980s and 1990s, recent developments. - Liberalisation of the common energy market: Liberalisation packages, unbundling, interconnectors and merging the fragmented markets of the Member States, clashes between the European Commission and the Member States. - Environmental dimension of the EEP: carbon tax, EU ETS, efficiency and costs of EU climate policy. - External energy relations of the EU: European added value, bilateral, multilateral and global dimensions of European external energy policy. - EU response to Russia's war on Ukraine.
Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • Research handbook on EU energy law and policy. Edited by Rafael Leal-Arcas. Second edition. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2024, xiii, 692. ISBN 9781035328017. info
  • Essential EU climate law. Edited by Edwin Woerdman - Martha M. Roggenkamp - Marijn Holwerda. Second edition. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2021, xxx, 320. ISBN 9781788971317. info
  • GUSTAFSON, Thane. The bridge : natural gas in a redivided Europe. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard university press, 2020, ix, 506. ISBN 9780674987951. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Lectures, discussions.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Written exams, oral exam.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024, Autumn 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2026, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2026/EGOn5001