Tag: energy dialogue

"EU-Russia energy relations should be straightforward, mutually beneficial and fast-growing, but they are not," writes Katinka Barysch, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform (CER), in a report featuring contributions from various authors.

Exceptional political leadership, serious public debate and concerted action are required from the highest consuming countries in order to bring energy supply and consumption into a sustainable balance, states the final report of the Club de Madrid’s 5th General Assembly on the 'Challenges of Energy and Democratic Leadership', which took place in Madrid on 20-21 October 2006.

As one of the world's largest importers of oil, gas and coal, the EU is a major player on the international energy market - However, it remains a dwarf on the political stage as member states keep the upper hand on foreign policy. With external dependence on imports forecast to grow steadily, the EU has started to integrate energy aspects into relations with third countries. EurActiv brings an overview of relations with key regions for supply and transit.

The EU and Norway are meeting in Brussels to discuss energy issues, including the exploitation of possibly huge oil and gas deposits in the Arctic. But a border dispute with Russia is so far holding up exploration in the area.

Among a large host of issues the EU US summit backed new enhanced energy dialogue to promote cooperation on climate change, energy security and cleaner technologies.

Russian and Western authorities handle energy trade and gas supply to EU in a "non-productive" fashion, comments Viktor Ivanter of the Institute of National Economic Forecasts. 

With energy currently on top of EU-Russia relations, researchers at CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies) discuss the different options available for the replacement of the 10-year old EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA).

Finance ministers of the world's eight most industrialised nations urged Moscow to ratify an energy charter treaty at the weekend after a spat with Ukraine in January highlighted Europe's dependence on Russian gas supplies.