This week we met and consolidated our research findings and mapped out our research and tasks for the next few weeks.

Given all the contextual research that has been done, our next focus is to plan and strategise possible way forwards for the EU. Based on the broad concepts introduced in this post, we have decided to look further into market-based approaches and geo-politcal responses.

Blog Posts

V4: Poland and Slovakia

Poland and Slovakia are the main champions of opposition towards the NS2 project, with reasons ranging from financial to energy security issues. As a response, both countries as well as the greater V4 region have started initiatives to reduce their reliance on Russian gas.

Background & General Thoughts About a Market-Oriented External Energy Strategy of The EU

The EU member states still pursue varying natural gas strategies. While some of them focus on building bilateral energy relationships that are based on “market-based economic mechanisms” (Stefanova 2012), others frame their strategies geo-politically and aim at achieving independence from Russia for security reasons. This strategy diversity can result in energy infrastructure projects that are based on regional motivations. According to Stefanova (2012), this is rarely avoidable. Instead, so she says, what really counts is the overall cohesiveness of the EU energy policy. The market integration plans of the Third Energy Package have the power to harmonize different energy policies by creating one large market framework. In this way, Stefanova (2012) says, suboptimal sub-regional projects could still contribute to achieving an Energy Union.

However, it can be observed that the EU member states are strongly disunited and doubt the achievability of this in a context, where projects such as Nord Stream 2 are put forward, even though a common strategic framework theoretically exists. What could be done to give the member states the support that allows them to indulge in joint efforts instead of distorting national solo efforts? This shows that the debate (also around Nord Stream 2) is not only about technical infrastructure and market questions, but about the future of EU-Russian-Ukrainian gas relationships in general (Łoskot-Strachota/Zachmann 2014). This said, an European answer to Nord Stream 2 is not a case decision only, but holds the opportunity to redefine the EU-Russian gas relationship. Essential part of this is finding a common and supportive approach of the EU towards the Ukraine, even if Nord Stream 2 is in operation.