Knowing Energy Use is Half the Battle? Assessing and explaining transposition behavior and enforcement in relation to article 8 of the Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU)

Mgr. Thom van Willigen, MSc

Master's thesis

Abstract:

This research assesses the transposed legal framework of article 8 Energy Efficiency Directive in EU member states (the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Denmark and Slovakia) and explains the transposition behavior and enforcement in relation to this article. It uses theoretical insights from several scholars associated with ‘implementation research’. It uses the directives’ characteristics, the ‘goodness of fit’ and ‘world of compliance’ approach as an analytical framework. The enforcement type in the Netherlands and the UK is categorized based in the degree of ‘formality’ of the enforcement system. This comparative case study does not attempt to generalize or test these theories per se, but uses theoretical insight to inform the case study analysis. The ‘worlds of compliance’ characteristics appear to offer a typology that holds up whereas the degree of misfit does not appear to be a significant factor driving transposition delays. The directive itself can be considered ambiguous in some respects. These factors appear to have has an impact on the somewhat troubled transposition of article 8 EED.

Abstract:

This research assesses the transposed legal framework of article 8 Energy Efficiency Directive in EU member states (the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Denmark and Slovakia) and explains the transposition behavior and enforcement in relation to this article. It uses theoretical insights from several scholars associated with ‘implementation research’. It uses the directives’ characteristics, the ‘goodness of fit’ and ‘world of compliance’ approach as an analytical framework. The enforcement type in the Netherlands and the UK is categorized based in the degree of ‘formality’ of the enforcement system. This comparative case study does not attempt to generalize or test these theories per se, but uses theoretical insight to inform the case study analysis. The ‘worlds of compliance’ characteristics appear to offer a typology that holds up whereas the degree of misfit does not appear to be a significant factor driving transposition delays. The directive itself can be considered ambiguous in some respects. These factors appear to have has an impact on the somewhat troubled transposition of article 8 EED.

Keywords

energy efficiency, European Union Directives

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 24. 9. 2015

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 24. 9. 2015
• Supervisor: prof. Dr. Sebastiaan Princen
• Reader: Mgr. Hubert Smekal, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Master programme / field:
International Territorial Studies / European Governance