ABSTRACT
The sixth chapter addresses the Lisbon Treaty as another critical juncture that occurred within a setting of low institutional stickiness and explores the policy development that was consequently triggered. More specifically, it investigates provisions regarding the security of gas supply and intergovernmental agreements, their respective revisions, and the factors leading to the project of the Energy Union. The Lisbon Treaty altered the institutional trajectory as different dimensions of energy policy were incorporated into the institutional matrix. The institution subsequently fell back into institutional equilibrium and a process of moderate integration of secondary law occurred. However, following the amendment of primary legislation, the external dimension could be addressed more directly, providing the Commission with legal tools that extended beyond the internal energy market (IEM). As a result, energy policymaking could no longer be confined to internal market legislation. This essential shift laid the groundwork for the Energy Union, characterised by a multidimensional approach encompassing various intended goals, especially in response to security concerns amid Russian-Ukrainian tensions. In addition, the chapter analyses the dichotomic preferences of Member States, with Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) favouring a more interventionist approach due to energy security concerns and Western European states focusing on economic integration and sustainability.
