This discussion paper examines how the growing role of the European Union in environmental and energy policy has affected independent environmental policy research and advice in Germany. Since the late 1980s, the European Union (EU) has played an increasingly important role in environmental policy. The Treaty of Lisbon also expanded the EU’s competences in the field of energy policy.

The paper explores how this shift in competences in environmental and energy policy has shaped independent environmental policy research and advice in Germany. It argues that the relationship between the EU and environmental research institutes is characterised by mutual interdependence. On the one hand, the EU relies on the specialist expertise of research institutes. On the other hand, the EU’s role as a commissioner of environmental research projects creates new conditions and opportunities for environmental policy research in Germany.

The project ‘From Blue Skies over the Ruhr to the Energy Transition’ (December 2012–June 2014) produced seven papers covering a range of topics. They drew on findings from the project interviews and placed them in the context of the existing academic literature. In doing so, the papers contributed to documenting the history of non-governmental environmental policy research and advice and identified areas in which the material collected could help fill existing gaps in knowledge. At the same time, the findings raised further research questions extending beyond the scope of the project.