New trends in the European Union energy policy

Abstract

This article is devoted to new trends in the energy policy of the EU countries, generated by economic and political events of recent times. The author analyses two main directions in solving the basic problem of overcoming the energy deficit in the EU: increasing domestic energy production and ensuring secure supplies from abroad. It is shown that at the present stage the significant increase in domestic energy production in EU countries (in atomic power plants, renewable energy sources, based on the technology of hydraulic fracturing) is impossible due to the insufficient level of technological development, lack of competitiveness compared to hydrocarbon energy, increasing environmental requirements, prevailing public opinion in European countries. The article also deals with the possibilities of energy imports increase from Russia and third countries.