The directive regulation of the energy industry in EEC and the EU in the 1960s - 1990s

The energy industry is an important economic and political factor influencing relationships of the states. Nowadays the dialogue between Russia and the EU is complicated because of unwillingness of the sides to follow rigid and unacceptable partner requirements. The EU’s legislative and legal framework is the formal reason that leaves fewer opportunities for Russia to affect the European energy market. Originally the energy industry was not considered by the EEC countries as a priority area of cooperation, and therefore its regulation was realized using directives urged to provide the Community countries cooperation on private issues, primarily on volumes of fuel reserves, lack of which could lead to negative consequences for the economy. The oil crisis of 1970s pushed the EEC to develop new approaches for the energy industry formation. The publication of conceptual documents on the branch development was the starting point for directives and resolutions, which focused the Community members’ attention on the need for greater coordination in energy security, scientific and technical cooperation, and openness of the information about prices for consumers, the EEC energy market access for all Community companies. The directive methods of regulation of energy industry acted as the mechanism of the mediated impact on European states by the Community supranational bodies. In the 1990s, because of changing economic and political situation new directives on the electric power and gas were entered, aimed at increase of unity of the European energy market and at the same time at its liberalization. By the 21st century the complex of directives had led to the increasing level of regulation of the internal energy market of Europe, and the growth in coordinating the actions of the EU members in key lines of energy development.