Scholarly literature on the external energy policy of the European Union has remained fragmented. Some studies focus on the internal mechanisms configuring external energy policy outcomes, while others assess EU external energy policies towards specific regions or countries or discuss which type of power the EU represents in international energy governance. This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the gradual evolution of EU external energy policy, from the formal recognition of the Union’s actorness in energy governance (the Regional Economic Integration Organisation clause explicitly requested during the Energy Charter process) until the recent and assertive attempts to export the EU’s market model beyond the Union’s boundaries. The Energy Community Treaty is the most evident example of the EU exporting its energy market model to states that are interested in accepting EU rules. The recent proposal of the European Commission to amend the Gas Directive and enforce EU legislation on all pipelines entering European borders reflects the growing ambition to export EU energy laws also to states that do not endorse them.
The paper argues that this trend of EU energy policy has resulted in a paradox. While the EU prioritises a bottom-up vision and competition in its internal energy market, an increasingly top-down approach has characterised its external energy policy. This trend also raises new concerns about the EU's approach to multilateralism. For instance, it may further aggravate contradictions with international mechanisms of governance, such as the Energy Charter Treaty and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Moreover, the growing attempts of the EU to export its energy norms may weaken its internal cohesion regarding external policy formulation because Member States and European institutions have different views on the matter. The paper will assess the EU’s attempts to export its energy market norms, including their external policy implications and the risks for the stability of the Union’s regulatory framework.
