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Green energy policies have spread globally, as a means to promote societal transition towards more sustainable pathways of growth. In this framework, the European Union posed as a key actor, identifying the promotion of green energy policies as a cornerstone of all its strategies for green transition. While the literature has generally recognised the ongoing harmonisation process, still scant attention has been paid to the assessment of differentials in the diffusion of policies promoting various typologies of renewable energy sources. Moreover, the role of domestic factors tends to be overlooked. Based on these premises, the present research has aimed to study the role played by both policy diffusion mechanisms and adopting countries' characteristics for explaining the emulation of renewable energy policies. Our main results show that coercion enhances the likelihood of policy emulation, while the other mechanisms differently influence the policymaking process, based on the typology of renewable and on the level of development of the country. These results set the stage for relevant policy implications for promoting coordination and abatement of normative barriers existing among EU Member States. These recommendations become even more relevant given the unprecedented investments planned by the EU through the REpowerEU plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing invasion of Russia of Ukraine and energy crises have sparked concern about economic and geopolitical stability all over the world. In Europe, the war has destabilized and endangered the energy cooperation and transition between European countries within and outside of the EU. This emergency has shown once more the importance of energy resilience policies to offset the vulnerability of energy systems and energy insecurity at the national and regional levels. Consilience has been reached on the necessity of enhancing EU energy security as an adaptation strategy. This work contributes to the existing scholarship on renewable energy transition and citizens' perception, focusing on European Union member states. Key characteristics of the renewable energy transition in the EU prior to the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine are examined. To this end, we analyze selected economic, environmental, social, policy and political variables on energy sorting from the Eurobarometer studying European citizens' perceptions. The exercise makes use of spatially-clustered regression to explore spatial heterogeneity and to elicit determinant information on specific regional groups. We learn that southern Europeans attribute less importance to energy infrastructure to facilitate the renewable energy transition and repute the EU solidity not a requirement for energy security access. Conversely, northern European citizens tend not to associate the responsibility of the EU in guiding competitiveness and policy toward green energy sources transformation. Robustness tests confirm our hypothesis. Regardless of regional differences, the EU energy and ecological transition will thrive with industrial and political cohesion. This process will pass through increased trust in institutions and dedicated energy policy action which will smooth the risks and disruptions coming from current and future shocks. • Eurobarometer variables European citizens' perceptions of renewable energy transition are analyzed. • Spatial heterogeneity statistics builds regional clusters southern Europeans ex-ante analysis of the Ukraine war and energy crisis. • Southern Europeans attribute less importance to energy infrastructure for renewable energy transition • Southern Europeans repute EU solidity not a requirement for energy security access. • Northern European citizens do not associate EU competitiveness with green energy sources transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]