Putting up a common European market for the natural gas could be the most efficient solution the European Union to counteract the Russian energy policy, which succeeded in dividing the continent, this is the conclusion reached by the European Council on Foreign Relations think-tank. Europe should focus on two directions: building the fourth natural gas corridor, Nabucco, and communicating to Russia the benefits that may come from ratifying the Energy Charter.
The study precedes the publishing of the revised EU Energy strategy and the EU - Russia summit, as well as the Czech takeover of the EU presidency.
The conclusions of the study:
What should the EU do?
In the post-Georgian war environment, with Member States divided over what approach the EU should take to its political engagement with Russia, it is of critical importance that Europe deals with its Russian gas problem. The Czech government has made clear that energy security will be one of the priorities of its presidency of the European Council, which runs for the first half of 2009. On 12 November 2008, the European Commission will publish its second Strategic Energy Review, with a focus on energy security. The review will form the basis of the next phase of EU energy policymaking, going beyond the “climate and energy
package,” currently being negotiated. Based on the analysis presented in this policy brief, we recommend that the EU:
• makes gas market integration the priority of its strategic energy policy. A single competitive gas market would help de-politicise the EU-Russia gas relationship, with major foreign policy benefits for Europe.
• helps Member States, especially those in central and Eastern Europe who are highly dependent on Russia, to develop and implement national action plans for improving their gas security.
• does n
