Europe and the eastern mediterranean energy resources

Abstract

The discoveries of sizeable gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean have raised expectations in Europe for two main reasons: the possibility of enhancing Europe's energy security by way of an additional source of supply; and the possibility that the development of these resources could trigger political stability in a volatile section of the EU neighborhood. This chapter will explore the opportunities for Europe and the technical, commercial, and political obstacles with Eastern Mediterranean energy resources, arguing that despite the potential, Eastern Mediterranean resources are no game changer for the EU's energy security, and that regional stability remains a precondition to their development rather than an outcome of it.