Victoria Jenkins

Regulation No. 347/2013 on Guidelines for Trans-European Energy Infrastructure: The provisions on permit granting and public participation and their implementation in the UK

Energy generation and security is a major concern of the European Union (EU). The EU is the world’s biggest importer of energy and its energy consumption has a very significant impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The need for European cooperation on energy was recognised in the original treaties on the European Coal and Steel Community and Euratom. However, the idea of a Trans-European Energy Network did not emerge until the 1980s when it became clear that the completion of the single market should be supported by a modern system of infrastructure. Today, there is a clear basis for legal action in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union on a Trans-European Network, with respect not only to energy, but also transport and communications. The EU’s current policy on Trans-European Energy Infrastructure has its roots in the EU 2020 strategy.