European Energy Security and the Resilience of Southern Mediterranean Countries

Abstract

Although energy security plays an increasingly prominent role in Euro-Atlantic agendas, concerns over European countries’ dependence on Russian gas have overshadowed energy security challenges in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean regions. Reliable energy exports from the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean are not only important for Europe’s energy security but also vital for the resilience of states and societies in the Maghreb and the Middle East. In order to mitigate the risks of unrest in the Southern Mediterranean, EU and NATO member states should also consider the repercussions of their energy policies on the economies of countries in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean.