Expert Seminar - 15 May 2007 - Concept

What future for the European Union's new Energy Security Policy?

 

The Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior (FRIDE), the Gulf Research Centre (GRC) and EGMONT - the Royal Institute for International Relations are organising a seminar to respond to the publication of the EU’s new energy security strategy and to debate those aspects of energy security related specifically to European foreign policies.

During the last year, the Ukraine-Russia gas dispute, greater global competition for diminishing hydrocarbon resources and higher oil prices have jolted the European Union into debating the development of a comprehensive European Energy Policy. Europe's increasing energy dependency, decreasing energy production and reliance on a small number of external suppliers have added to the urgency of these debates.

The Commission’s March 2006 Green Paper committed the EU to integrating energy issues more systematically into the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). It also promised that energy security would not compromise the EU’s commitment to promoting democracy and human rights. The Commission’s Strategic Energy Review published on 10 January 2007 further reinforced these commitments to a more effective energy security policy; this Review will now be debated by member state governments at the March 2007 EU summit.

In focusing on the foreign policy dimensions of energy security, our one day seminar will be framed around three broad issues:

a) Market versus geopolitical approaches:

b) Can member state interests be reconciled and streamlined within a common European energy policy?

c) Will external energy policy act to the detriment of democratic development?

 

 

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