Energy security remains a vital issue for the European Union (EU), even more so in the wake of the events that unfolded in early 2014 in Ukraine. The EU´s already fragile position in the international energy arena in terms of supply security appears to be more uncertain than ever after...

This article explores recent climate policy developments in China, the United States (US), and the European Union (EU), as well as their implications for a new global climate regime, expected in December 2015 in Paris. The road to Paris is marked by a shift from global efforts to domestic...

This paper examines the system of law and governance of international trade in unconventional energy sources. Currently, there is no cohesive governance for global energy trade. On the contrary, governance of energy trade mainly arises by default, rather than design, through the ad hoc interplay...

This chapter presents an analysis of sustainable development goals in the context of two mega-regional trade agreements: the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). These preferential trade agreements present a more efficient vehicle by...

This paper examines various mechanisms through which international trade can address climate change mitigation. It proposes the introduction of a regional model for promoting climate change mitigation, technology transfer and sustainable energy for all via the vast, ever-expanding network of...

The link between trade and the environment is the main theme of The WTO and the Environment by James Watson. The trade and environment regimes have evolved separately with different goals. While trade rules aim to eliminate protectionism and promote free and globalized trade, environmental...

This article analyzes the conceptual links between sustainability, common concern and public goods. It examines the mega-trends of the 21st century in the context of sustainability. By doing so, it brings forward the novel idea of how greater participation of citizens can be very promising in...

Energy security is a burning issue in a world where 1.4 billion people still have no access to electricity. This pioneering book is about finding solutions for energy security through the international trading system. Focusing mainly on the European Union (EU) as a case study, this holistic and...

This is a research project by ten Austrian scientists under the supervision of Stefan Griller and Birgit Weidel. The project tackles a complex binomial area of law and international relations, i.e., the European Union's (EU) foreign and external economic relations, where there is a very vast...

This article explains why the WTO and the various agreements that form an integral part of the Agreement establishing the WTO raise problems and challenges for the Court of Justice of the European Communities (ECJ). It focuses on the role of the ECJ in relation to exclusive and shared...