Energy Performance of the European Union Countries in Terms of Reaching the European Energy Union Objectives

Roman Vavrek,Jana Chovancová

doi:10.3390/en13205317

Abstract

European energy policy, especially the project of the Energy Union, is one of the most rapidly developing areas of the EU, and one through which European institutions are obtaining gradually more extensive power over the performance of the national energy sectors. The paper focuses on an analysis of the energy performance of EU member states (MS) with regard to the priorities of the European Energy Union. For an assessment of the energy performance of EU countries, the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was chosen, using the Coefficient of Variation method (CV) as an objective method for determining the weights of eight input indicators, including CO2 intensity, electricity and gas price, energy productivity, energy dependence, consumption of renewables and research and development. The analysis for the period from 2008 to 2016 showed significant changes in the input indicators, which directly influenced the results of both methods mentioned above. Long-term differences between the best- and worst-rated countries are seen mainly in CO2 emissions, energy imports and total consumption of renewable energy sources. It is these aspects of comprehensive energy performance and their convergence at the level of EU countries that we believe should be addressed in the near future.

Highlights

Energy has played an important role in the European Union since its beginnings and has become a frequently discussed topic in the EU’s political agenda, which has led to a comprehensive body of legislative documents that address the security, economic, environmental and climate aspects of energy policy
This created a group of 6 countries whose status has been stable in the long term, and it can be assumed that the cause of their assessment is long-term and this assessment is not the result of “coincidence.” For its evaluation, the following research hypotheses are tested: Reasearch hypothesis no. 1 (RH1): There are statistically significant differences in the importance of the selected eight indicators using the Coefficient of Variation method (CV) method
The presented research was carried out within the intentions defined in the methodology The presented research carried out within intentions defined inby thethe methodology

Summary

Introduction

Energy has played an important role in the European Union since its beginnings and has become a frequently discussed topic in the EU’s political agenda, which has led to a comprehensive body of legislative documents that address the security, economic, environmental and climate aspects of energy policy. The evidence of this was shown by Benson et al [1], who stated that, by 2010, the EU had adopted a cumulative total of over 350 legal instruments and measures addressing this topic. The formation of the Energy Union can be seen as the most significant policy effort creating the platform for important transition of European energy system, allowing for the shift to decarbonization of the economy and promoting long-term sustainability and climate protection.

Objectives

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Conclusion