The quest for natural gas pipelines: EU and Eastern Partner energy policies: Security versus transit benefits

The European Union has been increasing efforts to maintain gas supply security especially vis-à-vis its main gas supplier, Russia. In that context, Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries, serving either as gas suppliers (Azerbaijan) or transit/corridor countries (all the others except Armenia), have an undeniable role for the EU. Security of gas supply depends on close EU cooperation with its EaP partners and interconnections between them.

There have been some welcome developments, such as the Southern Gas Corridor that transports Caspian gas to the EU, which reflects the importance of the EaP partners and also contributes to EU energy security and the ambitious Energy Union project. On the other hand, a project aimed at doubling the capacity of the Nord Stream gas pipeline directly connecting Germany and Russia under the Baltic Sea has raised some criticism.

• Primary Source

European Parliament: Directorate-General for Internal Policies of the Union: Publications available via the EU Bookshop http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/directorate-general-for-internal-policies-of-the-union-cbf.cKABstF7wAAAEjwYYY4e5K/

European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: Study, July 2016: The quest for natural gas pipelines: EU and Eastern Partner energy policies: Security versus transit benefits http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/586626/EPRS_STU(2016)586626_EN.pdf

EurActiv, 12.05.16: Southern gas corridor on time, BP executive says (et al) http://www.europeansources.info/record/development-of-the-south-gas-corridor-project/

ESO: Background information: Sefcovic sheds light on Nord Stream 2 negotiations http://www.europeansources.info/record/sefcovic-sheds-light-on-nord-stream-2-negotiations/

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