The development of the EU energy system as a challenge to sustainable development of the region

Energy policy is one of the main elements of the integrated development of the European Union. Its optimization would diversify energy sources, make the EU an independent as possible from external energy supplies and democratize the energy market, allowing ordinary Europeans to participate energy production and trade. Nevertheless, the development of the European energy system cannot be implemented in isolation from the rest of the world, as domestic resources for energy production in the EU are not enough. To solve this problem they should conclude contracts in the short term for the supply of energy resources with such countries as Russia and Iran. However, in the context of the geopolitical confrontation of these states with the United States, cooperation with them of the European Union, including individual EU countries, is difficult. It creates a clear challenge to sustainable development of the European Union.