From fragmentation to integration: Gas market convergence in Central and Eastern Europe in the aftermath of the EU energy crisis

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F04274644%3A_____%2F26%3A%230001266" target="_blank" >RIV/04274644:_____/26:#0001266 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/60460709:41110/25:106428

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421525004112" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421525004112</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114904" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114904</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

From fragmentation to integration: Gas market convergence in Central and Eastern Europe in the aftermath of the EU energy crisis

Original language description

The 2022 energy crisis exposed deep structural vulnerabilities in the European gas market, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), a region historically dependent on Russian gas and lacking fully liberalized markets. This study provides the first comprehensive empirical assessment of the integration of the gas spot market in nine CEE countries from 2021 to 2024, employing Granger causality, Johansen cointegration, vector error correction models (VECM), impulse response functions, and forecast error variance decomposition. The results reveal an increase in regional price convergence, driven by expanded infrastructure, flexible trading mechanisms, and policy interventions such as the Ukrainian short-haul transit service and the EU's REPowerEU plan. However, integration and market cohesion remain uneven. Countries like Germany, Poland, and Czechia function as central price-setters, while others, notably Romania and Bulgaria, exhibit greater exposure to shocks. Infrastructure projects such as the GIPL interconnector and new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals significantly reduce price imbalances, but events like Germany's cross-border transport levy (GSU) introduce persistent distortions. This paper highlights progress and persistent asymmetries in the CEE gas market integration, offering insider policy recommendations. It demonstrates the need for coordinated policy action, harmonized regulation, and continued investment in interconnectors and storage to ensure resilient and interconnected gas markets throughout the EU.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

50200 - Economics and Business

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2026

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Energy Policy

ISSN

0301-4215

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

208

Issue of the periodical within the volume

January

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

21

Pages from-to

114904

UT code for WoS article

001590211800001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105017707141