L’approvisionnement en pétrole et en gaz de l’Europe

La plupart des débats relatifs au transport de l’énergie sont directement ou indirectement liés à la Russie. C’est ce qu’indique Susanne Nies, chercheur associée à l’Institut français des relations internationales (ifri).

Indeed, « perfecting Europe’s energy map, on which Cold War divisions are still etched as if on a phantom wall, remains a challenge, » while the « lack of institutions and places to hold these important debates remains a concern ». 

Exploring « what the map of connections and pipelines teaches us, » Nies argues that the hydrocarbon transport network is a « strong factor in European integration » and « constitutes a powerful factor of integration with extra-Community regions, with [both] producers (Norway, Russia, Algeria) and transit countries ».

With this in mind, priority should be given to supporting « increased energy efficiency in producer countries and normative and environmental actions on protecting the Bosphorus through a common effort to find alternative routes to the straits, » Nies argues. She also believes that the number of interconnectors between old and new EU member states should be increased.

In fact, Europe and Russia « have been successfully developing an interdependent relationship since the 1970s, based on security of supply and the guarantee of consumption, » Nies observes, emphasising that this has led to a situation whereby « Russia is just as dependent on being the number one gas exporter and on the reliability of its partner as the EU is as a consumer ».

Without making snap judgements on a delicate situation, « it is necessary to distinguish between Russia’s own interest and that of Gazprom, » the author maintains. Doing this, she says, will avoid suspicious attitudes that only lead to « demonisation » of Russia.

Instead, Nies concludes that the relationship between Europe and Russia should be « framed by both a renegotiated strategic partnership and enhanced by a new focus on energy in 2008-9 ».

She believes that the primary concerns for both continents should be « Europe’s increasing [energy] demand » as well as the « development of infrastructure, fields, and energy efficiency » and strengthening relationships with transit countries.