The European Union’s Efforts to Formulate Energy Policy Following the 2022–2023 Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Abstract

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine triggered a significant energy crisis for the European Union, which had long depended on natural gas supplies from Russia. This dependency exposed structural vulnerabilities within the region’s energy system, prompting the EU to urgently formulate a more resilient and sustainable energy policy. This study aims to analyze the formulation process of the EU’s post-invasion energy policy through a supranational approach and the co-decision mechanism, while also evaluating the policy’s effectiveness using the Four As framework (Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, and Affordability). A qualitative descriptive method is employed, drawing upon policy documents and relevant literature. The findings indicate that the REPowerEU policy serves as a milestone in Europe’s energy transition by diversifying energy sources, accelerating the adoption of renewable energy, and strengthening cross-border energy infrastructure. Beyond addressing the immediate crisis, the policy also reflects a deepening of regional political integration in energy matters. The study concludes that crises can act as positive catalysts for energy policy transformation and the reinforcement of supranational solidarity within the European Union.