ABSTRACT
Contemporary academic research on the subject focuses on the political and legal implications of the European Union's (EU's) enhanced international capacity which leads to promotion of European democratic and market economy values to third countries, Europeanization of third countries institutional and legal structures and creation of European Legal Space. The conceptual focus of this contribution is on the linkage of an EU's external policies and actual application of the EU "energy acquis" by third countries which do not have immediate perspective of joining the EU in the future, countries of the Eastern Partnership. As of 2011, Moldova and Ukraine had obtained full membership in the Energy Community (EnC) which implies that these eastern neighbouring countries are under a legal obligation to implement the EU energy acquis in the areas of gas, electricity, nuclear energy, oil and renewable energy. The eastern neighbouring countries with observer status are under soft commitments to ensure regulatory convergence within the EU energy acquis.
