ABSTRACT
Europe’s energy sector encompasses some of Europe’s largest corporations and poses a wide range of significant policy challenges which demonstrate several recurring themes in relation to the EU’s interactions with business. These themes include liberalisation and deregulation, tax harmonisation, public service obligations, environmental issues, enlargement and the development of constructive sectoral relationships with third countries and regions-a process which takes on an additional dimension for energy in view of the demands of security of supply (that is, ensuring that the EU always has good quality, reliable sources of energy available). Not only are these themes central to the development of strategy in Europe’s energy producers but they are also a significant to Europe’s commercial and industrial energy consumers for whom energy can be a major cost component.
