The EU External Energy Policy and the Law: Does the EU Really Matter?

International audienceThis article describes the implementation of the European Union external energy policy as an example of the way the law can be used to drive forward and realize concrete energy policy goals. The law constitutes both a basis for the development of the EU energy policy and its main instrument of action. Through a discussion of three examples – the Energy Community with the Balkans and some Eastern European countries, energy cooperation with the People’s Republic of China and energy cooperation with the United States of America – this article aims to analyse not only the empowering force of the law but also its limits as a means to pursue the objectives of the EU energy policy