ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book elaborates the theoretical basis of the present study, and examines the phenomenon of regional cooperation through the theories of regionalism. It dedicates to the main European provisions regulating regional energy cooperation. The book identifies the formal and informal regional cooperation frameworks in the energy field, mapping out the role, content and type for each framework identified. It focuses on policy and their main objective is to propose concrete public policy recommendations for Romanian policy-makers. Energy management is a vast dimension which requires multiple competencies for policy elaboration, implementation and constant actualization. Starting from the competency-related premise, it becomes clear that the study of energy policies is placed at the intersection of political science – and social sciences in general – economics, international relations, law and even engineering, geography or natural sciences.
