Moving EU-Russia gas relations 'out of the cold' : a policy view

Abstract

The warming of EU – Russia gas relations would be considerably beneficial to the EU, and is an achievable goal if a rational approach is adopted. Fundamental to this, is the acknowledgment of three essential issues. Firstly, EU – Russia gas relations cannot be considered independent of the bleak political context. Secondly, the EU will continue to need Russian gas for the foreseeable future. Thirdly, Russia’s dependence on the EU gas market is becoming much stronger than the EU’s energy reliance on Russian gas. Once these issues are acknowledged and accounted for, an improvement in EU – Russia gas relations is achievable and sustainable. It is only a matter of will to negotiate and create stable and viable proposals.