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Energy Security in EU – Russia Partnership

Klemen Grošelj, p. 5–19

Abstract: In this article our aim is to reflect on complex and multidimensional relations between EU and Russia, with special focus on energy relations which seems to be in the heart of this quite peculiar economic interdependence. To do this it is necessary to look at a wider aspect of EU – Russia relations with special attention and exposure of different perceptions on mutual relations. Descending from this wider frame of mutual relations the main analysis is focused on question if EU – Russia and to some extend even EU member states – Russia relations, are based on idea of cooperation or competition. Since the focal point is energy security the article is trying to defi ne energy security from different point of views, because the perception and definition of energy security is not the same for EU, Russia or transit states for Russian energy. Nevertheless the energy security issue is most pressing for EU and its member states, due to presented statistical date on growing dependence of EU on import of energy in general and with special emphasize to its growing dependence on Russian energy resources. Article is trying to present major challenges laying ahead for EU and Russia in their energy cooperation in the frame of different future scenarios of global energy market development.

Keywords: EU, Russia, energy, energy security, energy dependence, Russia – EU partnership

Is Dependence really Interdependence? Gas Strategies Seen from Central Eastern Europe

Attila Virág, p. 20–40

Abstract: This article explores the dependencies between the European Union and its eastern member states and Russia. The EU -27 and Moscow formulate their energy security target -systems following two considerably different strategic energy approaches. The parties might initially appear to be interdependent in the examined field. This view, however, would only have relevance if the energy policies of the European Union were unified and regulated at Union level, and this is not the case. Hence it is a more substantive question to ask what relationships separate member states maintain with Russia concerning gas affairs. The second half of this article concerns itself with an in-depth analysis of the central-eastern European member states of the European Union. It demonstrates, on the basis of historical and geographical factors and recent discussions regarding gas and gas lines, that the interdependence of countries in the eastern part of the Union and Moscow is asymmetric. Accompanying risks are even more severe, since the two regions, central-eastern Europe and Russia, are separated from each other by so-called gatekeeper countries.

Keywords: energy policy, security policy, supply security, European Union, Russia

Africa: a Future Energy Supplier for Europe? Africa as a Member of Trans-European Transfer Networks and Partner to Eu on the Field of Electricity Industry

Šárka Waisová, p. 41–54

Abstract: The EU member states rank among the most developed countries in the world which also makes them significant electricity consumers. Electricity consumption in the EU member states has been increasing steadily over several decades and this tendency should be expected to continue in the future Majority of the EU member states are not self-sufficient as to electricity production and have to cover greater or smaller part of their consumption by import from third countries. The present text deals with the possibilities of electric energy import to the EU countries from Africa. Thinking of importing electric energy from Africa, it is vital 1) to identify the source countries capable of producing sufficient volumes of electric energy and eligible to cooperation, and 2) to consider possible ways and means of the transfer of electric energy to European countries, i.e. to analyse the current state of transfer networks between European countries and North and Central African countries. The first part of the present text focuses on determining which countries in the North and Central Africa come into question as potential energy suppliers for the EU, the second part deals with the possibilities of electric energy transport from the North and Central Africa to Europe.

Keywords: electric energy import, electricity consumption, electricity production, EU, North Africa

DISCUSSION

Hilmar Rommetvedt, Drago Zajc, and Oluf Langhelle: The Internatinalization of National Parliaments: the Norwegian Storting and the Slovene Državni zbor

BOOK REVIEWS

Ľubomír Lupták: Unfinished business: post -communist transition discourse in transition

Lenka Strnadová: Trust and Transitions: Social Capital in a Changing World