1. what is the energy union about?

The European Commission launched in February 2015 a new strategy for a resilient Energy Union with a forward-looking climate change policy.

The goal of the Energy Union is to give EU consumers - households and businesses - secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy. Achieving this goal will require a fundamental transformation of Europe's energy system.

The Energy Union Strategy is made up of five closely interrelated and mutually reinforcing dimensions, designed to bring greater energy security, sustainability and competitiveness:

Energy security, solidarity and trust: Diversifying Europe's sources of energy and making better, more efficient use of energy produced within the EU.

A fully-integrated internal energy market: Using interconnectors which enable energy to flow freely across the EU - without any technical or regulatory barriers. Only then can energy providers freely compete and provide the best energy prices.

Energy efficiency contributing to moderation of demand: Consuming less energy in order to reduce pollution and preserve domestic energy sources. This will reduce the EU's need for energy imports.

Decarbonising the economy: Pushing for a global deal for climate change and encouraging private investment in new infrastructure and technologies.

Research, innovation and competitiveness: Supporting breakthroughs in low-carbon technologies by coordinating research and helping to finance projects in partnership with the private sector.

The State of the Energy Union monitors each year the progress made and highlights the issues where further attention is needed. It shows progress made since the Energy Union Framework Strategy was adopted to bring about the transition to a low-carbon, secure and competitive economy.