The Third Energy Package gas Directive (2009/73/EC): compliance in Lithuania and Romania

"Threats posed to EU's energy security during the last fifteen years, made the Commission to develop the Energy Policy promoting the integration and the creation of the Internal Energy Market. The ""Third Energy Package"" was introduced in 2009 aiming to promote the liberalization of the market but not all the member states complied immediately; there were delays and differences among them. The focus of this study is the Directive 2009/73/EC and how Romania and Lithuania reacted and tried to transpose it into national law. By comparing them the study aims to find differences and to reach general conclusions about the Energy Policy and factors that determine the countries' responses and compliance. The paper analyzes the energy markets and the changes caused by the Directive, energy security concerns, the countries' general compliance stance, administrative capacity and corruption, national interests and foreign policy, domestic politics with changes of governments and possible pressure from interested groups because of cost-benefit calculations based on the specific Directive's provisions. The analysis shows that cold relations with Russia do not guarantee a country's compliance. Energy security issues explain Lithuania's willingness to comply but Romania's stance is not in line with the geopolitical role it wants to acquire in the region. An implementation that incurs domestic costs for the country and/or the political elites and does not directly benefit the country is more difficult. In Contrast, if the proposed legislation solves national problems, the country will be eager comply even if there is a cost in the short term. Considering these issues during the Policy formation process could improve the countries' compliance and reduce tensions and delays."

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

European Union Studies

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2018

Author dc:creator

• Bolaris, Ilias Markos

Contributors dc:contributor

• Skalnik Leff, Carol
• Ozkan, Sebnem

• third energy package, gas market, compliance, energy weapon, EU

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2016 Ilias Bolaris

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/92960

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/92960