“Let us not forget that there is no security without energy security!” The Energy Union – A case of securitization? Analysing the role of the European Commission in the creation of the Energy Union

Abstract: Energy and energy security have in recent years made it to the top of political agendas across Europe. In this context, this thesis examines the relationship between the securitization of energy and the creation of the Energy Union, which has been described as one of the most ambitious EU projects since the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951. Using a combination of securitization theory and discourse analysis 21 speeches were analysed in order to examine to what extent the Commission acted as a securitizing agent in order to promote further integration. The analysis identified two discourses on energy, one of which contained elements of securitization. This showed that the Commission strived to securitize the ‘supply of energy’, which was described to be threatened as a consequence of the EU’s dependency on Russia as the main supplier. The result of the analysis is in line with previous research, which has shown that securitization has previously been used by the Commission to promote further integration.