The Study Of Energy Policy In European Communities (1950-1973)

The European Coal and Steel Community initiated by Schuman—Monnet plan in 1950 has long been considered the Phase I of the reconstruction and integration of Western Europe. It was also an attempt by the six Western European nations (namely France, Germany, Italy, Netherland, Belgium and Luxemburg) to establish a new and supra-national institution to secure energy supply. The development of ECSC and the role played by its supra-national institutions has offered a new thinking for the European Communities to solve its energy problems. Based on existing cooperation within the Community, European Atomic Energy Community was established with the hope to coordinate the development of atomic energy industry in the Western European nations through joint R&D and joint construction to reduce their dependence on foreign coal and oil imports.But since 1958, the coal output in Western Europe gradually exceeded demand which has been on the rise after the end of WWII. This became a major issue facing the Coal and Steel Community. For the member states of the Community and the European Community as a whole, the coal industry was no longer the major concern in energy demand and security of supply for Western Europe. But in the meanwhile, the atomic energy industry has not yet fully developed. Cheap imported oil has replaced coal to become the dominant energy source in Western Europe. The energy policy of the European Communities thus faced a transformation from a sector-energy-policy to an all-encompassing common energy policy.In 1967, three Communities integrated with each other. The commission of E.C. has made great efforts during the process to propose the establisliment of a common energy policy for the European Community. The commission of E.C. also submitted two reports in 1968 and 1972 respectively titled "First guideline for a Community energy policy" and "Necessary progress in Community energy policy" . The two reports made close analyses on the energy situation of the European Community. They also made a number of practical suggestions on the forming of a common energy policy. These suggestions were not, however, adopted by council of minister. The political differences between member states were an important reason for which the suggestions were not adopted. In the meanwhile, it should be considered that no member state government was willing to handover the decision-making power of oil import, pricing and tariff to the European Community. Besides, the newly established European Community and it Commission were unable to tackle the first Oil Shock caused by the politicization of energy issues. What should also be pointed out is that the goal-setting for the Common Energy Policy was too pushy and hasty.