CZVMVZ003 Energy Policy & Security of the EU

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Tomáš Vlček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Lenka Martínková (lecturer)
Mgr. Erin Anna Huták (assistant)
Mgr. Marie Dobešová (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Tomáš Vlček, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites
The curriculum requires no specific previous knowledge, and all information is presented in non-technical language. Students of all fields and degrees are welcome. For more information please visit https://summeratmasaryk.cz/
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
Course objectives
Energy transition, skyrocketing prices of energy, reliance on imports from authoritarian and openly hostile regimes, weaponization of energy supplies, energy poverty, social aspects of energy use, or looming impoverishment of once proud coal regions. These are just a few examples of the major challenges faced by many countries around the world, including the European Union. The summer school aims to thoroughly examine both recent and long-term developments, plans, and policies of the EU influenced by the development of the global energy environment. The carefully selected lecturers will help the students to unveil the logic and motivation behind them, understand the reasons, tools, and effects, and to perceive the effect on the industrial and social sectors.
Learning outcomes
The presented summer school provides its students with deep insight into these challenges and, using interactive tools and in-class discussions, cultivates the students’ ability to interpret them within the complex patchwork of European climate and energy policy. Misunderstanding of differences and specifics in different EU regions creates unnecessary friction and may result in disputes. Therefore, the summer school focuses on stressing the multidisciplinary nature of the topic. Besides the primary goal of providing orientation in the field of energy security and related challenges, the summer school also provides a platform for a dialogue aiming to overcome ideological gaps between different concepts and attitudes to the issues mentioned above.
Syllabus
  • The school spans over two weeks. The first week is dedicated mainly to the internal dimension of the European energy policy and sets the stage for the second week, during which contemporary geopolitical challenges and domestic issues are discussed. An integral part of the curriculum is a discussion session with Vaclav Bartuska, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affair's Special Envoy for Energy Security, and a session on supply security and geopolitics led by James Henderson, Director of Natural Gas Programme of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. The lectures include topics such as EU energy policy principles, EU electricity market, Energy transition in the European Union, External dimension of the European energy policy, CEE region: specifics and characteristics, Energy Crisis in Europe: Cause, Manifestation and Solution, Oil supply patterns in the CEE, Russian oil in the EU, Russian gas in the EU, Energy security in wartime, The nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear fuel supply patterns, Gas supply patterns in the CEE, Energy poverty, Energy efficiency and savings, Coal phase out in Europe.
Literature
  • PROEDROU, Filippos. EU energy security in the gas sector : evolving dynamics, policy dilemmas and prospects. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate, 2012, xix, 171. ISBN 9781409438045. info
  • BJØRNEBYE, Henrik. Investing in EU energy security : exploring the regulatory approach to tomorrow's electricity production. Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International, 2010, xxii, 456. ISBN 9789041131188. info
  • DE JONG, J. J. The Third EU Energy Market Package: Are We Singing the Right Song? 2008. info
Teaching methods
Students will be obligated to participate in workshops, discussions and seminars. At the same time, they will work on group project, which will be concluded by a presentation at the end of the summer school. The quality of the project work will be evaluated by the lecturers. Successful completion of the project will be a prerequisite for successful completion of the summer school and will be the proof of students` understanding of the topic and its context.
Assessment methods
Group project presentation, participation in workshops, discussions and seminars
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught only once.
The course is taught: in blocks.
Note related to how often the course is taught: Summer School.
Teacher's information
The summer school will take place at FSS MU in Brno. More information at https://summeratmasaryk.cz/
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/CZVMVZ003