LIST OF PANELS

Energy policy is characterised by the following developments: First, energy issues benefit from elevated levels of political attention, which results in the production of a large number of energy-related legislation. Second, concerns about the environment and climate change are essential for the policy dynamics in this field. Third, energy policy is becoming more and more diverse and now also includes considerations about the affordability of energy and other social aspects. In short, energy policy presents itself as a very dynamic and diverse field, which must be analysed in greater detail. We are seeking both conceptual and empirical papers that revolve around the following questions:  What are the challenges to energy markets? Which policy responses are discussed or adopted? Which actors are influential in energy politics and what are their strategies? We encourage the participants to answer these questions in a variety of ways, for example, by applying quantitative methods, case studies, discourse analysis, or surveys. Yet we ask the authors to be as transparent as possible in the methods of data collection and analysis. In a similar vein, we welcome theoretical plurality, but strictly require all proposals to pay increased attention to the theoretical underpinning of their studies. We aim to contribute to the state of research by providing a theoretically informed analysis of the key challenges in a policy area that is rising in importance and the responses to these challenges by policy makers. We invite both advanced and young scholars of different disciplinary backgrounds (economics, political science, public administration, and sociology) working energy politics. In terms of output, we plan to put together a special issue of a relevant journal in the field or an edited volume.

Energy policy today comprises rules concerning energy sources, technology and innovation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, the single market for gas and electricity, energy from abroad, energy infrastructure and environmental aspects of energy production, consumption and transit (see, e.g., Talus 2013). Energy policy is a promising field for analysis since it spans across sectoral boundaries, including economic policy, environmental policy, security policy, more generally international relations and social policy. Common to most European countries are limited deposits of natural resources, increasing energy competition and energy prices, and high dependence on Russian energy sources amid heightened geopolitical tensions. Against this background, policy-makers are pursuing multiple energy related goals aimed at promoting renewable and safe energy, reducing their dependency on imports, increasing energy efficiency and forming joint regional energy markets. The uncertainty of the future policy outlook has also prompted many business groups and NGOs to defend their stakes (e.g. electric utilities companies) or seeking new business opportunities (e.g. hydraulic fracturing companies or wind energy companies). At the same time, energy policy is subject to strong Europeanization effects, in particular since the launching of the European Energy Policy in 2007, which sees for a coordinated European strategy to increase energy supply and security, ensure the availability of affordable energy, promote environmental sustainability and combat climate change, as well as promote the interconnection of energy markets. This panel shall examine European energy policy developments from the perspective of policy analysis. We thus focus on the central energy-policy actors, institutions and their impact on energy policy. Which policy responses are discussed or adopted? Which actors are influential in energy politics and what are their strategies? These are the research questions that we ask paper proposals to this panel to address. We encourage the participants to answer these questions in a variety of ways, for example, by applying quantitative methods, case studies, discourse analysis, or survey. Yet we ask the authors to be as transparent as possible in the methods of data collection and analysis. In a similar vein, we welcome theoretical plurality, but strictly require all proposals to pay increased attention to the theoretical underpinning of their studies. We aim to contribute to this state of research by providing a theoretically informed analysis of the key challenges in a policy area that is rising in importance and the responses to these challenges by policy makers. We invite both advanced and young scholars of different disciplinary backgrounds (economics, political science, public administration, and sociology) working on energy politics. In terms of output, we plan to put together a special issue of a relevant journal in the field or an edited volume.