For more than a year, the European „energy community” has been focusing on the consequences the status quo in Ukraine had on the continental energy security architecture. The Ukrainian crisis generated a marked speed up in the energy integration processes at EU level and had its peak in the start up of the European Energy Union project. 

The diversification of the natural gas sources and routes for Europe’s natural gas supply therefore became a politic and strategic priority for the EU. On the other hand, it was mandatory for the Russian Federation to develop an alternative natural gas supply route for its European customers, bypassing Ukraine. Both „energy blocks”, namely the European consumers and the main supplier, the Russian Federation, are thus faced with the strategic conundrum of redesigning energy relations, being currently driven by conflicting feelings with long term irreversible consequences.

Read more in the attached pdf.