Energy and climate policy: does the competitiveness narrative prevail in times of crisis?

Abstract

There is little research on how the economic crisis has affected the EU’s climate and energy policies. Addressing this research gap, this article argues that the economic crisis has not fundamentally changed the broad trajectory of EU energy and climate policy. Broad policy objectives and the preferences of EU member states have remained stable. However, within these broad parameters the main impact of the economic crisis has been on the EU energy and climate discourse that, in turn, has influenced the EU decision-making process and policy outcome in two ways, both of which have led to a certain decline of ambition in EU climate policy. First, it has changed the hierarchy of priorities of EU policy-makers to paying more attention to economic problems rather than climate change, renewables or energy efficiency. Secondly, the crisis has strengthened the concerns of cost implications of climate measures. While both developments impede an ambitious climate policy, we also found evidence that measures which are designed to stimulate economic recovery may also facilitate policy reform and further integration in the field.