The Energy Union represents an important initiative that can
contribute to revitalising the economic and political integration within Europe.
This article examines the rationale leading to the Energy Union Strategy in
2015 and provides an overview of the progress made since then. In particular,
it illustrates the main legislative proposals adopted as a result of the
strategy and it elaborates on how those contribute to the development of a
secure, sustainable, and competitive energy system in Europe. At the same time,
the Energy Union is not intended to be simply an inward-looking project, as it
equally entails significant actions at international level related to the EU
energy and climate agenda. In this context, the authors elaborate on the
impacts that the Energy Union is having on existing and future cooperation with
the EU’S partners. The article concludes on the way forward on the implementation
of the Energy Union and on the remaining challenges towards its transformation
into a new policy paradigm.