Energy Regionalism in Wider Europe: Sub-Regional Energy Dynamics and the EU’s Eastern Partnership

Year 2024, , 67 - 100, 06.06.2024

Eray Erbil , Oktay Tanrısever

https://doi.org/10.32450/aacd.1387050

Abstract

This article investigates energy regionalism in wider Europe, examining extra-regional and intra-regional challenges. In recent years, the European Union (EU) has taken concrete steps to enhance its energy security and reduce its dependence on Russia. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has further highlighted the critical dimension of the energy crisis between Russia and the EU. This study emphasizes the vital role of sub-regional energy dynamics in regional policy formulation and criticizes the EU's regional approach. In this realm, the article assesses the EU's Eastern Partnership through the Caucasus Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) and the Northeast Europe Eastern Partnership countries (Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus). Thus, countries' recent initiatives will be investigated to demonstrate how they cope with issues of energy security. In the end, the article underlines the necessity for the adoption of tailor-made sub-regional energy policies by the EU. For Northeast Europe Eastern Partnership countries, the EU needs to support energy market liberalization and stability, invest in critical infrastructural developments, foster effective dispute resolution mechanisms, and maintain transparent transit conditions. For Caucasus Eastern Partnership countries, the EU needs to facilitate multilateral energy cooperation and dialogue, promote energy market liberalization, and facilitate energy interconnection. In short, strong political leadership and continuous efforts to foster collaboration and interconnectivity in wider Europe are necessary to enhance energy security.

Keywords

energy security, natural gas, regionalism, european union, eastern partnership

Geniş Avrupa'da Enerji Bölgeciliği: Alt Bölgesel Enerji Dinamikleri ve AB'nin Doğu Ortaklığı

Abstract

Bu makale hem bölge dışı hem de bölge içi zorlukları inceleyerek geniş Avrupa'da enerji bölgeselciliğini araştırmaktadır. Son yıllarda Avrupa Birliği (AB) enerji güvenliğini arttırmak ve Rusya'ya olan bağımlılığını azaltmak için somut adımlar atmıştır. Rusya'nın Ukrayna'yı işgali, Rusya ile AB arasındaki enerji krizinin kritik boyutunu daha da vurgulamıştır. Bu çalışma, bölgesel politika oluşturmada alt-bölgesel enerji dinamiklerinin hayati rolünü vurgulamakta ve AB'nin bölgesel yaklaşımını eleştirmektedir. Bu çerçevede makale, AB'nin Doğu Ortaklığı'nı Kafkasya Doğu Ortaklığı ülkeleri (Ermenistan, Azerbaycan, Gürcistan) ve Kuzeydoğu Avrupa Doğu Ortaklığı ülkeleri (Ukrayna, Moldova, Belarus) üzerinden değerlendirmektedir. Böylece, ülkelerin enerji güvenliği meseleleriyle nasıl başa çıktıklarını göstermek için son dönemdeki girişimleri incelenecektir. Makalenin sonunda, AB tarafından özelleştirilmiş alt-bölgesel enerji politikalarının benimsenmesi gerekliliğinin altı çizilmektedir. Kuzeydoğu Avrupa Doğu Ortaklığı ülkeleri için AB'nin enerji piyasasının liberalleşmesini ve istikrarını desteklemesi, kritik altyapı gelişmelerine yatırım yapması, etkili anlaşmazlık çözüm mekanizmalarını teşvik etmesi ve şeffaf transit koşullarını sürdürmesi gerekmektedir. Kafkasya Doğu Ortaklığı ülkeleri için AB'nin çok taraflı enerji iş birliği ve diyaloğunu desteklemesi, enerji piyasasının serbestleşmesini teşvik etmesi ve enerji bağlantılarının kolaylaştırılması gerekmektedir. Kısacası, enerji güvenliğini arttırmak için güçlü bir siyasi liderlik ve Avrupa çapında iş birliğini ve karşılıklı bağlantıyı teşvik etmeye yönelik aralıksız gayret gereklidir.

Keywords

enerji güvenliği, doğal gaz, bölgeselcilik, avrupa birliği, doğu ortaklığı

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