Engaged but constrained. Assessing EU actorness in the case of Nord Stream 2

Abstract

Despite helpful categorizations are available about EU’s role in external energy governance, more analysis is needed on the factors likely to enable or constrain EU’s actorness. This paper builds on the theoretical framework of actorness as a heuristic device to assess the extent to which its different components of opportunity, capability and presence impact on the EU’s ability to be an actor in external energy governance. Looking at the case study of Nord Stream 2, the pipeline aiming to double the amount of energy transiting from Russia to Germany, the paper argues that EU actorness depends on several constraining factors, such as the distribution of competence between the EU and its member states, the unwillingness of the latter to delegate competence to the former, and the existence of conflicting interests across member states. The article applies a process-tracing method and builds on grey literature, EU official documents and interview data