The European Union (EU) has an increasing demand for energy, which is the basis for its economy and the prosperity of its citizens. Given the fact that the Union itself does not have the necessary resources at its disposal, it is dependent on other resource exporting countries – especially Russia. To become more independent from those countries, the EU follows a strategy of diversification of energy supplies and market liberalisation.
In this context, the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), bringing together the EU and 16 of its Eastern and Southern neighbouring states, plays a significant role. But the rapprochement between the EU and its neighbours is problematic regarding relations with Russia, which see its interests in its traditional zone of influence threatened. Given the high dependence of European (and ENP) states on Russian gas, Russia was traditionally able to use energy deliveries (or rather their non-delivery) as a geostrategic tool to push through its interests. With the ENP, which enables the coordination of deliveries and pipeline projects with energy transit countries, the EU has developed a geostrategic tool to potentially reduce the Russian influence on deliveries.
Against the background of relations between the EU and Russia being characterised by non-static mutual interdependence, (geopolitical) strategies can be used to change the power relations between states in favour of one actor or another. In this context, the aim of this paper is first, to elaborate on the geostrategic functioning of the ENP and second, to evaluate the value of the ENP for European Energy Security focusing on the Eastern Partnership and the resulting changes in the energy relations between the EU, its neighbours and Russia, to finally be able to give an answer to the question "To what extent does the ENP serve the EU as a geostrategic instrument to improve its energy security?". In the analysis, the European as well as the Russian standpoint will be considered to be able to reveal strengths and weaknesses of the ENP-strategy.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
THEORY AND METHOD
EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY
ENERGY SECURITY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE ROLE OF RUSSIA
EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY AS A GEOSTRATEGY OF (ENERGY) SECURITY
THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE
ENP and diversification of suppliers and energy supply routes
ENP and pan-European Energy Community and market liberalisation
THE RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE
Chances of fragmented European energy market and bilateral energy relations
Looking east: Rising Asian demand for energy and the Eurasian Economic Union
CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines the geostrategic function of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and evaluates its effectiveness in enhancing European energy security. It focuses on the Eastern Partnership and investigates how the EU attempts to use regional integration to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, while simultaneously analyzing the counter-strategies employed by Russia to maintain its influence.
- The geostrategic role of the ENP as an instrument for energy security.
- The dynamics of EU-Russian energy interdependence and the impact of the "contested neighbourhood."
- The role of the Eastern Partnership in diversifying energy suppliers and routes.
- Russian geostrategic counter-measures, including the Eurasian Economic Union and bilateral energy deals.
Excerpt from the Book
European Neighbourhood Policy as a geostrategy of (energy) security
In its 2020 Energy Strategy, the European Commission has stated that “[i]nternational energy policy must pursue the common goals of security of supply, competitiveness and sustainability” and has stressed the importance of relations with producing and transit countries (European Commission, 2010). The ENP, and more specifically the Eastern Partnership, play a central role with regard to assuring good relations with these countries and even contain clear objectives concerning the improvement of European energy security. The measures range from diversification of suppliers and energy routes to the establishment of a pan-European Energy Community and market liberalisation. Still, Russia profits from the ENP´s shortcomings. Although it has not developed a similarly formalised policy, its possibilities to exercise influence over other energy importing countries and other potential customers to overcome its dependence on European energy imports.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: Outlines the EU's growing energy demand and dependence on Russia, introducing the ENP as a potential geostrategic tool to mitigate these vulnerabilities.
THEORY AND METHOD: Establishes a theoretical foundation using classical and critical geopolitics to analyze the ENP as a strategy for organizing territory and space.
EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY: Details the history and structure of the ENP and the Eastern Partnership, emphasizing the EU's goal of creating a "ring of friends" to enhance security.
ENERGY SECURITY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE ROLE OF RUSSIA: Analyzes the EU's current energy mix and its high dependence on Russian oil, gas, and solid fuels.
EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY AS A GEOSTRATEGY OF (ENERGY) SECURITY: Critically evaluates the EU's efforts to diversify supply routes and implement market liberalization against Russian influence.
THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE: Examines specific EU initiatives like the Southern Gas Corridor and the struggles of exporting energy norms to neighboring states.
THE RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE: Explores Russia’s "gas-for-silence" strategy, its exploitation of fragmented European energy markets, and its "Pivot to the East" strategy.
CONCLUSION: Synthesizes the findings, concluding that the ENP remains an underperforming tool that has not yet succeeded in decoupling European energy security from Russian influence.
Keywords
European Neighbourhood Policy, ENP, European Energy Security, Russia, Geostrategy, Eastern Partnership, Energy Dependence, Diversification, Gazprom, Eurasian Economic Union, Geopolitics, Natural Gas, Market Liberalisation, Energy Transit, Interdependence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the geostrategic application of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and its impact on the energy security of the European Union, specifically regarding its complex relationship with Russia.
What are the primary themes explored?
Key themes include the geopolitics of energy, the EU's efforts to diversify supply routes via the Eastern Partnership, Russian influence strategies, and the challenges of creating a pan-European energy market.
What is the core research question?
The research asks to what extent the ENP serves the European Union as an effective geostrategic instrument to improve its energy security.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The study employs a constructivist-geopolitical analytical framework, utilizing a case study approach to examine the transformative potential and actual results of the ENP strategy.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the theoretical definitions of geopolitics, the structure of the ENP, statistical analysis of EU energy imports, the role of pipeline projects like the Southern Corridor, and the emergence of the Eurasian Economic Union.
How would you characterize the key concepts?
The paper is characterized by the concept of "asymmetric interdependence" between the EU and Russia, the "contested neighbourhood" of Eastern Europe, and the use of "geostrategy" to shape political and economic realities.
How does the ENP fail to meet expectations according to the author?
The author argues that the ENP struggles due to national dissents among EU member states regarding market liberalization and an inability to effectively integrate neighboring countries into a cohesive energy market.
What is the significance of the Eurasian Economic Union in this context?
The EEU is presented as a Russian geostrategic counter-instrument, potentially creating an "energy superpower" that complicates the EU's ability to maintain transit influence over neighboring countries like Belarus.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Josephine Susan Götze (Autor:in), 2017, The European Neighbourhood Policy. A Geostrategic Tool for European Energy Security?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/380665
