Energy policy: General Principles

Challenges facing Europe in the field of energy include issues such as increasing importdependency, limited diversification, high and volatile energy prices, growing global energydemand, security risks affecting producing and transit countries, the growing threats ofclimate change, slow progress in energy efficiency, challenges posed by the increasingshare of renewables, and the need for increased transparency, further integration andinterconnection on energy markets. A variety of measures aiming to achieve an integratedenergy market, security of energy supply and sustainability of the energy sector are at thecore of the European energy policy.