As George Bush might say, the EU is addicted to Russian energy. While no member wants to kick the habit totally, Brussels would like the bloc to reduce its growing dependence.
Even before Moscow invaded Georgia, the main non-Russian route for exporting Central Asian and Azeri crude and gas to Europe, the EU watched Russia’s regular cuts in energy supplies to neighbours with concern.
But EU members have been reluctant to take the hard measures that would allow them to bypass Russia, so analysts think their reliance on Moscow will grow.
What should European countries to ensure it has sufficient oil and gas in the future?
Should EU nations be prepared to put cash behind its energy diversification goals?
Is a common EU energy policy even possible when oil and gas is so important that no country seems prepared to risk its own energy security for that of the bloc?
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Tension between the oil and gas producer russia with europe is no new theme. All throughout the cold war they were at odds politically and militarily yet soviet gasprov never missed a shipment to europe from the eastern block.
It will be business as usual for the EU in a short period of time.
- Posted by Oil