THE ROLE OF FOREIGN AND INTERNATIONAL POLICY IN THE ENERGY AND CLIMATE POLICY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION.

Aim: In order to show the role of foreign and international policies in shaping the EU's energy and climate policies, the history of the European Communities has been traced through the prism of individual policies. Combining several of them (energy, climate, international and foreign) in this analysis is the result of viewing them in the context of causal effects. Methodology/approach: The method of the paper was based on an in-depth analysis of the European Union source documents, published on websites and in documents of the European Commission and the European Parliament. The information gathered was extended through a library search and based on the library resources of several prominent Polish universities, as well as the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Moreover, the analysis included academic publications, websites of institutions, companies and organisations monitoring the course and changes of energy and climate policy. Limitations: The referenced, quoted, analysed documents or packages aim to produce and regulate a common EU energy policy. However, this multitude of documents, directives and regulations does not seem to have helped the Union to demonstrate to the rest of the world that it has a coherent energy policy. Implications: Energy and climate policy issues are analysed and described based on the historical experience of the European Union and its previous economic and, above all, political structures. Value: Managing energy security in such a complex and diverse structure as the European Union requires experience and a sense of responsibility for the decisions taken. Responsibility for mistakes is often only political, which is why it is so important that any documents, decisions, directives or regulations are the work of responsible people, so energy policy should be managed like a potential crisis, based on consensus. Energy and climate policy issues are analysed and described based on the historical experience of the European Union and its previous economic and, above all, political structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]