Renewables, Preferential Trade Agreements and EU Energy Security

Rafael Leal-Arcas, Valentina Caruso and Raphaela Leupuscek
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Rafael Leal-Arcas: The Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
Valentina Caruso: The Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
Raphaela Leupuscek: The Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK

Laws, 2015, vol. 4, issue 3, 1-43

Abstract: A major aim of the international community is to decarbonize the economy. With renewables, international trade in energy is likely to increase. In turn, the international trading system can be a major vehicle towards moving away from fossil fuels to renewable energy. To this end, it can provide fair competition, economies of scale and knowledge transfer. This article analyzes the impact of European Union (EU) preferential trade agreements (PTAs) in addressing climate change mitigation and energy security by promoting renewables. Currently, there is a proliferation of PTAs; this trend seems irreversible and is likely to persist, given the current crisis in the multilateral trading system. We argue that the EU can, through its network of PTAs, move towards greater energy independence as renewable energy becomes increasingly economically viable. This article provides a thorough review of the renewable energy-related provisions in the EU’s current PTAs and recommends three tangible ways through which the EU could capitalize its vast network of PTAs to boost the renewable energy market.

Keywords: renewable energy; preferential trade agreements; energy security; EU; Energy Community; climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D78 E61 E62 F13 F42 F68 K0 K1 K2 K3 K4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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