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Environmental and Legal Issues Related to the Exploitation of Unconventional Hydrocarbons in the European Union

Jonas Urbanavičius


Shale gas and other unconventional hydrocarbons may significantly contribute to the security of energy supply and to the decrease in energy prices in Europe. Some European countries are rich in reserves of hydrocarbons and keen to exploit them. However, there are environmental risks associated with the exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbons. This activity is rather new and still poses some concerns related to the quality of individual environmental elements (water, air, underground). The main environmental and market related issues and challenges from the European Union’s point of view and national legislation applicable for unconventional hydrocarbon activities are analysed in the article, presenting the current regulatory framework with an outlook on possible changes in the future.

Jonas Urbanavičius, Director, Institute of Europe, Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania).

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