The EU-Russia Energy Relationship: European, Russian, Common Interests?

Abstract

One quarter of the European Union's gas supply stems from Russia, oil supply plays an important role too, and Russia has become the third largest trading partner of the EU, with energy predominating. Debates in the media and academia thus focus very much on the question of whether Russia, humiliated according to many during the 1990s, ``back'' now as an ``energy power'', uses or might use the ``energy weapon'' against the EU. In addition, it goes without saying that the 2004 and 2007 EU accession of former Soviet bloc states has increased sensitivity and shed light on their existing overdependence on Russian energy sources. Should the EU be alarmed and diversify away from Russia? Conflicts between Russia and other former Soviet republics are manifold and continuing, with energy often being an important catalyst. The Russian-Georgian war in August 2008 was a harsh reminder of the potential renewed Russian imperialism in its former hegemonic sphere. And the Russo-Turkmen ``Gas War'' in 2009 illustrated the tools Russia was ready to use in order to change the terms of trade.1