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Why would countries without a membership perspective seek legally binding sectoral integration into the EU's internal market? While EU candidate countries are obliged to adopt the "acquis" before accessing the EU, I argue that countries with no or only a vague membership perspective -- ie., countries where the EU cannot apply the "conditionality" -- approach (eg., ENP countries) -- aim at deeper, ie., legally binding, sectoral integration with the EU because they are either eager to demonstrate their capability & potential to become part of the Club, they seek greater independence from a regional hegemon or they envisage significant economic gains as common norms, rules & standards are likely to increase economic exchange with the EU. This article conceptualizes the above mentioned research question taking the EU external energy policy as an example. This policy is not only characterized by a high regulative density, but in particular by a specific legal instrument to export EU law to non-EU member countries, ie., the European Energy Community. Adapted from the source document.