Energy poverty: area for cooperation among the Visegrád countries?

Gustav Svedberg

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

As members of the European Union, the Visegrád countries enjoy a supranational regulative framework on energy policies, with some directives that articulate the setbacks of energy poverty. However, are the formulated energy policies and directives on the supranational level too generic for a practical application? The prevalence of energy poverty across the union differs widely. The post-communist countries in the Visegrád region hold a relatively high level of the common drivers behind energy poverty compared to the Western and Northern parts of the European Union. However, comparable cultural, historical, geographical, and socio-economic characteristics were the common ground for establishing the Visegrád group in which the Visegrád coun-tries cooperate within several areas. Does alleviation of energy poverty prove to be an area suitable for cooperation? If so, what are the specific areas for cooperation? What effect on energy poverty alleviation can be expected from such cooperation? To answer this question, a three-level analysis is presupposed. 1) The prevalence of energy poverty within each of the Visegrád countries; 2) Country specificities on energy poverty; 3) Current national energy policies which directly or indirectly tackle the issue. Based on the analysis of this study, before regional cooperation can be fruitful, each Visegrád state must provide an official definition of energy poverty; they must also improve their policies on the national level. Especially in the area of energy efficiency improvements. Regional cooperation could, to a certain extent, enhance energy poverty alleviation.

Abstract:

As members of the European Union, the Visegrád countries enjoy a supranational regulative framework on energy policies, with some directives that articulate the setbacks of energy poverty. However, are the formulated energy policies and directives on the supranational level too generic for a practical application? The prevalence of energy poverty across the union differs widely. The post-communist countries in the Visegrád region hold a relatively high level of the common drivers behind energy poverty compared to the Western and Northern parts of the European Union. However, comparable cultural, historical, geographical, and socio-economic characteristics were the common ground for establishing the Visegrád group in which the Visegrád coun-tries cooperate within several areas. Does alleviation of energy poverty prove to be an area suitable for cooperation? If so, what are the specific areas for cooperation? What effect on energy poverty alleviation can be expected from such cooperation? To answer this question, a three-level analysis is presupposed. 1) The prevalence of energy poverty within each of the Visegrád countries; 2) Country specificities on energy poverty; 3) Current national energy policies which directly or indirectly tackle the issue. Based on the analysis of this study, before regional cooperation can be fruitful, each Visegrád state must provide an official definition of energy poverty; they must also improve their policies on the national level. Especially in the area of energy efficiency improvements. Regional cooperation could, to a certain extent, enhance energy poverty alleviation.

Keywords

Energy poverty, Energy efficiency, Visegrád Group, Regional cooperation

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 13. 12. 2021

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 10. 1. 2022
• Supervisor: Mgr. Hedvika Koďousková, Ph.D.
• Reader: Mgr. Tereza Stašáková

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Bachelor programme / field:
International Relations and European Politics / International Relations and European Politics