Institutional Convergence towards OECD Standards and Public Governance Quality: Implications for the Energy Sector

The relationship between international standards and institutional governance quality plays an important role in Europe’s energy transition. The energy sector requires long-term investment, regulatory predictability and institutional credibility during periods of economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Between 2020 and 2025, Europe faced several major challenges, including the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the European energy crisis. These developments placed greater pressure on energy security and institutional resilience.

This study examines how six European countries align with the standards of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The countries were selected because they represent different stages of institutional convergence and different energy sector structures. The analysis descriptively examines the relationship between international standards, institutional governance quality and perceived public integrity.

Institutional governance quality is evaluated using the Worldwide Governance Indicators and the Corruption Perceptions Index. The analysis also includes an original Composite Convergence Index based on 56 legal instruments adopted within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development covering governance, finance and investment, and energy and nuclear sector. The energy and nuclear area accounts for approximately 18% of the selected legal instruments.

Germany and France maintain full convergence throughout the analysed period, while Poland and the Czech Republic remain close to full convergence. Romania and Bulgaria show faster progress after the launch of the accession process in 2022.

The findings indicate a positive connection between the Composite Convergence Index, the Worldwide Governance Indicators and the Corruption Perceptions Index. This suggests that convergence reflects not only formal alignment with international standards, but also institutional credibility and regulatory stability in sectors such as energy that rely on long-term investment.