Energy policy
- (Photo: EUobserver.com)
The Lisbon Treaty Art. 194 TFEU provides for energy as a shared competence. EU law may therefore override member states' existing legislation and right to legislate in this area. The choice of energy source will remain a national competence.
The EU has decided that 15 % of all energy must come from renewables. Member states decide themselves how.
The EURATOM Treaty continue. This treaty promotes the use of nuclear energy, but neither the existing treaties nor the new Lisbon Treaty can force countries to accept nuclear power plants in their territories.
Previously, there was no general chapter in the EU treaties on energy, but Art. 3 u TEC in the Nice Treaty quoted energy as one of the fields in which the Union could act to achieve its objectives.
The EU has also power over ("competence") energy policy under the normal community rules for the development of the internal market, trans-european networks, rules relating to social and economic cohesion and environmental policy.
Notes
- Nuclear energy is part of the Euratom Treaty. The Commission promotes nuclear energy and the citizens pay subsidies to encourage nuclear energy through the EU.
Links
http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/s14000.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/index_en.htm
