Where Does the EU Stand in Energy Dependence on Russia After the Ukrainian Crisis: Are there Any Alternatives at Hand?

Abstract

Since the 1973 OPEC oil crisis the EU has been dependent on hydro-carbon imports from Russia. The latest Ukrainian crisis, resulting from the Russian annexation of Crimea, has naturally triggered therefore old European concerns associated with the 2006-2009 Russian gas stoppages. In the aftermath of the Crimean situation the EU Commission saw the urgent need to undertake an in-depth analysis of the Union’s future energy security strategy. In June, Brussels issued the 2014 Energy Security Strategy, and it became clear which objectives member states should be following in the short and medium to long term, as far out as 2030. Following the release of the EU’s strategy, this paper aims to analyse the most recent developments to trigger debate among IR scholars and energy experts on whether the EU can find and exploit alternative resources in order to transcend its longstanding energy dependence on Russia

Keywords

• Russia, Ukraine, EU, energy inter dependency, diversification, SGC, Shale Revolution

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