Towards constructing a common energy policy in the European Union: How can we theorise about the actor role of the Commission?

Abstract

This paper presents empirical evidence on the development of the energy policy of the European Union in the period 1985–94, showing how the Commission has worked towards the member states. It highlights the role of the European Court in the process of forging an open market in energy and other fields, like telecommunications, and posits the theoretical query of how one can theorise the role of non-state actors in international politics. Critisizing state-centered approaches, the paper explores the importance of agenda-setting and problem-definition.