EU Influence on Renewable Energy Policies in Georgia and Tunisia Analyzed

Research conducted by the University of Bodenkultur Wien, with financial support from the Hungarian Academy of Science's Distinguished Fellowship, has explored the European Union's (EU) efforts to promote renewable energy policies in Georgia and Tunisia under the European Green Deal and other policy frameworks. The study highlights the crucial roles of business actors, civil society, and resistance movements in supporting and contesting the implementation of EU norms. By integrating a critical reassessment of external governance literature with a configurational and decentralized approach to EU external action, the research provides a reframed perspective on the external dimension of the European Green Deal.

Key Takeaways:

• The EU's efforts to promote renewable energy policies in Georgia and Tunisia are crucial for supporting sustainable development, energy security, and climate change mitigation.
• The study emphasizes the importance of business actors, civil society, and resistance movements in supporting and contesting the implementation of EU norms.
• The research highlights the significance of support coalitions and domestic contestations in pursuing EU energy policies in Georgia and Tunisia.
• Both case studies highlight the importance of transnational actor configurations and the autonomy of domestic actors in pursuing their strategies.
• The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the external dimension of the European Green Deal, emphasizing the need to consider the roles of other international organizations and the autonomy of domestic actors.

Statistics:

• The EU has invested €1.5 billion in renewable energy projects in Georgia and Tunisia since 2015 (Source: European Commission).
• The European Green Deal aims to reduce the EU's greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050 (Source: European Commission).
• The study analyzed the implementation of EU renewable energy policies in Georgia and Tunisia, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in both countries.

Sources:

• International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics (2025 issue)
• NewsRx LLC (July 4, 2025 publication)
• University of Bodenkultur Wien (research results)
• Hungarian Academy of Science's Distinguished Fellowship (financial support)
• European Commission (EU investment in renewable energy projects)
• European Commission (European Green Deal goals and targets)