The role of the European Commission as a supranational institution in the process of European energy policy integration Case study: the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project

Abstract

Focusing on pipeline-delivered natural gas, this thesis aims to assess the entrepreneurial effort of the Commission in the promotion of the process of European integration in the energy sector. The analysis is based on the research question: what was the role of the Commission in the energy policy sector, specifically, in the establishing a common EU energy policy? To evaluate the research question, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project has been chosen as the case study of the Commission’s effort to steer the energy policy towards European integration. Considering the negative repercussions of Nord Stream 2 on the European energy market, the Commission attempted to halt the project, meanwhile facing member states’ opposition. After two failed attempts to stop the project using the existing energy legislation, the Commission proposes to amend the Gas Directive 2009/73/EC in its favour. Although the Commission’s attempts did not result in the cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 project, the Commission has succeeded in making at least the German side of the project comply with internal market rules. The Commission has succeeded in expanding its competencies in determining the external dimension of the EU energy policy through the amended Directive: The Commission has limited the power of Member States in the area of gas pipelines with non-European countries.