2 The “Energy Union“: Fixed Goal or Open Process?

In the 1950s, the energy resources coal and nuclear energy were closely linked to both economic reconstruction and the start of European integration along with its vision for a flourishing future of Europe. Although the struggle for a common solution in energy policies was important in the early phase of integration, the founding members did not follow up on those issues after the successful start of the first integration communities (ECSC, EEC, Euratom) at the end of the 1950s. This is all the more surprising taking into account the continuously existential dependence on secure access to energy sources for the dynamically developing economies in Western Europe.