Subsidiarity monitoring in the area of Energy
Legal basis
Article194 TFEU
Click here to see the consolidated version of the Treaty of Lisbon.
The EU has been gradually establishing a common energy policy over the process of time. Initially, EU initiatives in this area were based on Treaty provisions from a variety of different policy fields, such as the environment and the common market. The Lisbon Treaty has now introduced a specific legal basis for EU energy policy. This policy has been categorised as a shared competence between the Union and the Member States (Article 4 TFEU).
The Lisbon Treaty stresses the context of EU energy policy against the background of the internal market and the environment. In a spirit of solidarity between the Member States, this policy aims to establish and ensure the functioning of the EU's energy market and the security of supply in the EU. It also seeks to promote energy efficiency and energy saving, the development of new and renewable energies and the interconnection of energy networks.
Most of the European Union's energy legislation is adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Article 294 TFEU), after consultation with the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Measures of a primarily fiscal nature are adopted unanimously by the Council, after consulting the European Parliament.
Further information on the CoR's work in this area
The CoR commission responsible for work in this area is the
Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE). Click here for comprehensive information about this commission, its work programme and activities.
