Introduction to the Research Handbook on EU Competition Law and the Energy Transition

The Elgar Handbook on EU Competition Law and the Energy Transition provides an in-depth analysis of traditional and emerging antitrust, state aid law and policy issues concerning the energy transition, sustainability goals and European energy markets. This introduction offers a theoretical foundation and overview of the 16 chapters contributed to the book. The authors demonstrate how European climate and energy policies, coupled with rapid technological advancements, have transformed the design of European electricity and gas markets. This evolution has prompted the adoption and eventual implementation of numerous new regulations within and surrounding the energy sector, amplifying the complexity of the interaction between regulatory law and primary EU competition rules. Across the book’s contributions, a common theme emerges: market integration concerns, economic factors, technological progress and climate sustainability considerations have become integral aspects of energy-related competition policy assessments.