A new EU Policy Brief, “Decarbonization by Regulation, Security by LNG: Policy Coherence in the EU Energy Transition after 2022“, written by Ahmed Al-Jalili, Carleton University (June 2026), analyzes the changes with the European Union’s (EU) energy policy.
During August 2022, European energy imports were at record high prices and the EU’s response to the shock was two fold – first, continue to pursue the clean energy transition aligning with established regulatory decarbonization goals and second, manage energy security supply by increasing EU imports of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) while reducing dependence on Russian gas pipelines. EU member states acting independently with decisions on its own energy supply and infrastructure added another level of challenge for the EU energy policy. The EU’s energy dependence was not eliminated externally but rather redistributed with LNG energy imports from different suppliers.
Mr. Al-Jalili argues, “The EU’s post-2022 energy strategy is best understood as a case of managed policy coherence…” which allows the EU to continue progress with most of its climate and energy goals but with a shifting reliance on LNG imports to reduce fossil fuel consumption and foster less dependence on Russian gas. While stabilizing energy prices, the EU has become increasingly dependent on the US, Norway and Qatar as suppliers of LNG. Amidst rising geopolitical tensions and in the short-term, Mr. Al-Jalili points to several policy implications which the EU will need to address to strengthen energy policy coordination with its member states.
The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence publishes a series of EU Policy Briefs from experts and scholars which address prominent policy issues facing the EU-Canada relationship.
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