Strategic Contradictions in the Energy Policy of the European Union: Global Climate Goals and Ensuring Energy Security

Abstract

The relevance of the study is driven by the deepening strategic contradictions within the European Union’s energy policy against a backdrop of geopolitical instability and structural shifts in global energy markets. The juxtaposition of the ambitious long-term goals of the European Green Deal with the short-term imperatives of ensuring energy security necessitates a comprehensive analysis. The purpose of the work is to identify and systematize the various types of contradictions between the decarbonization strategy and the objectives of ensuring the EU’s energy independence, as well as to develop scientifically grounded recommendations for optimizing energy policy. The scientific novelty lies in the application of an interdisciplinary approach, based on the theory of strategic contradictions, to analyze the EU’s adaptation mechanisms to external shocks. This makes it possible to reveal understudied aspects of interaction between the supranational, national, and corporate levels of energy governance. The materials and methods of the research include an analysis of EU regulatory legal acts, statistical data on energy consumption, and a comparative analysis of strategic documents. The results demonstrated that the EU’s energy policy is characterized by fundamental contradictions between climate ambitions and practical energy supply needs. Resolving these requires innovative mechanisms and a balanced approach to the energy transition.