Certain International Legal Issues of Energy Policy of the European Union

INTRODUCTION. One of the main tasks facing states in the context of growing world population is to satisfy the growing need to provide stable, cheap and environmentally safe energy. These issues can be addressed both through legal regulation and through the introduction of new technologies, including the gradual transition to renewable energy sources. Th European Union can be considered an undisputed leader in this field, which has carried out a major transformation of its internal energy market over the past two decades, resulting in a revision of traditional mechanisms of its functioning. However, the new legal order has led to new challenges, including those of an international nature, which must be addressed exclusively within the framework of international law. In this regard, this article analyzes current legal issues related to functioning of the EU energy market and their relationship with international law, including obligations arising from the WTO agreements, the UNCLOS as well as environmental treaties. In particular, special attention is given to the analysis of the main gas-related provisions of the Third Energy Package as well to the implementation of the cross-border gas pipeline project Nord Stream 2. Finally, the article covers the key points of the recently adopted Clean energy for all Europeans package.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study is based on multilateral international treaties as well as legal acts and other offi al documents adopted within the European Union. The study is also based on the teachings of domestic and foreign researchers. The authors use general scientific methods as well as special methods such as historical, systematic, formal and comparative.

RESEARCH RESULTS. The study shows that the acts adopted within the European Union in the field of energy may be in conflict with certain international rules, enshrined in the WTO agreements and the UNCLOS. In addition, the authors show that the implementation of the Third Energy Package by the EU Member States should be carried out taking into account the compatibility of the adopted norms with international legal standards on environmental protection.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. Th authors conclude that despite the severity of the European legislation, it should be based on international law, which can restore the broken balance in relations with involved parties, primarily with Russia. The authors also propose to develop and adopt a number of instruments on environmental protection from damage caused by energy activities, including the prevention of transboundary air pollution over long distances and in the course of development and production of fuel and energy resources of the seabed.

1. Arapova E., Bol'shakov A., Sushentsov A. «Cevernyi potok-2»: stsenarii razvitiya situatsii [“Nord Stream – 2”: scenarios]. Moscow: Konsaltingovoe agentstvom MGIMO “Evraziiskie strategii”. Publ. 2019. 27 p. (In Russ.). URL: http://eurasian-strategies.ru/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Severnyj-potok-2.-Scenarii-razvitijasituacii.pdf (accessed 12.01.2020).

2. Dralle T. Ownership Unbundling and Related Measures in the EU Energy Sector: Foundations, the Impact of WTO Law and Investment Protection. Dresden: Springer International Publishing AG. 2018. 373 p. DOI: 10.1007/9783-319-77797-9

3. Georgiou N., Rocco A. Energy Governance in EU-Russia Energy Relations: Paving the Way Towards an Energy Union. Birmingham: University of Birmingham. 2017. 24 p. URL: http://epapers.bham.ac.uk/2944/1/IEL_Working_Paper_01-2017.pdf (accessed 04.01.2020).

4. Gudkov I.V. Politiko-pravovye aspekty realizatsii transgranichnogo gazoprovodnogo proekta “Severnyi potok – 2” [Political and legal aspects of the implementation of the "Nord Stream-2" cross-border gas pipeline project]. – Neft', Gaz i Pravo. 2017. No. 2. P. 41-53. (In Russ.)

5. Gudkov I.V. Problemy mezhdunarodno-pravovogo regulirovaniya energeticheskikh otnoshenii na primere vzaimodeistviya Rossii i Evropeiskogo soyuza [Problems of international legal regulation of energy relations in view ofthe Russia – EU Interaction] – Zakon. 2015. No. 1. P. 84-96. (In Russ.)

6. Gudkov I.V. Tretii energeticheskii paket Evropeiskogo soyuza [EU Third energy package]. – Neft', Gaz I Pravo. 2010. No. 3. P. 58-66. (In Russ.)

7. Herweg M., Wurster St., Dümig K. The European Natural Gas Market Reforms Revisited: Differentiating between Regulatory Output and Outcome. – Social Sciences. 2018. Vol. 7. Issue 4. P. 1-19. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci7040057

8. Ispolinov A.S., Dvenadtsatova T.I. Sozdanie edinogo energeticheskogo rynka ES: tikhaya revolyutsiya s gromkimi posledstviyami [The creation of a common EU energy market: a quiet revolution with loud consequences]. – Baltiiskii region. 2013. No. 2. P. 101-119. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.5922/2074-9848-2013-2-8

9. Medović V. South Stream: Business Deal of the Century or Lawsuit of the Century?. Belgrade. 2017. 31 p. URL: http://www.emins.org/uploads/useruploads/forum-it/IF-20-South_stream_ENG_net.pdf (accessed 04.01.2020).

10. Penttinen S.L., Aalto P., Haukkala T. EU Electricity Market Reform and the Adoption of the Clean Energy Pack-age Addressing System Flexibility. – EL-TRAN Policy Brief. 2020. No. 1. 11 p. URL: https://www.aka.fi/globalassets/33stn/materiaaleja/politiikkasuositukset/20_01_eu_electricity_market_reform_analyysi.pdf (accessed 05.02.2020).

11. Petrov K.E. Primenenie pravil Tret'ego energeticheskogo paketa ES i ego posledstviya dlya rossiiskoi energetiki [Application of the EU Third Energy Package and Its Implications for the Russian Energy Sector]. – Ezhegodnik Instituta mezhdunarodnykh issledovanii. 2014. No. 3-4. P. 182-194. (In Russ.)

12. Rachkov I.V. Kommentarii po sporu: ES i gosudarstvachleny – Mery v otnoshenii energeticheskogo sektora [Commentaries to dispute: EU and states-members – Measures with regard to the energy sector]. – Pravo VTO. 2015. No. 1. P. 71-77. (In Russ.)

13. Riley A. Nord Stream 2: Understanding the Potential Consequences. Washington: Atlantic Council. 2018. 20 p. URL: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/report/nord-stream-2-understanding-the-potential-consequences/ (accessed 04.01.2020).

14. Talus K. EU Energy Law and Policy: A Critical Account. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2013. 375 p. DOI: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199686391.001.0001

15. Talus K. Research Handbook on International Energy Law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. 2014. 704 p.