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| 1 |
ID:
164504
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| Summary/Abstract |
This article argues that the European Union (EU) has pursued a geopolitical approach to its external energy policy in the Caspian region, with the aim of importing gas via routes that bypass Russia. This approach treats energy as a strategic good that governments need to secure through political, diplomatic and economic involvement in energy trade. The geopolitical approach differs from the traditional EU stance to energy policy, which focuses on market liberalization, competition, and climate targets. Through an analysis of key policy documents and statements of top EU officials in charge of external energy policy, the article shows that the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) exemplifies a geopolitical approach to energy. In a second step, it highlights how the geopolitical logic that permeates the SGC has underplayed the important economic, technical and security challenges hindering the project. These challenges are compounded by Russia’s response, which aims at strengthening competition to SGC gas through new export pipelines (Turkish Stream). Finally, the article argues that, due to the multiple challenges faced by the geopolitical approach, the EU is more likely to achieve energy security through its traditional market liberal approach. As a large, integrated and well-regulated market, the EU can acquire sufficient and affordable energy resources by encouraging competition among external suppliers and by relying on the existing, underutilized import infrastructure. Furthermore, the implementation of the EU’s climate agenda makes long-term projects for the import of fossil fuels such as the SGC largely redundant.
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| 2 |
ID:
106739
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| Publication |
2011.
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| Summary/Abstract |
The article examines the EU's and specifically the European Commission's proposals for an external energy policy. The analysis departs from the assumption that the geographical scope of the Commission's proposals is not the result of 'geopolitical facts' but rather of a discursive policy process of geopolitical writing in which geopolitical images and ideas are constantly being created and re-created. I first examine how the Commission is constructing its vision of an integrated European energy space in theory and how it uses 'spectacular' images to justify the linkages between energy security and geography. I then distinguish between Walters's notions of 'networked' and 'colonial' type of relations between the EU and third states to examine the wider political purpose behind the Commission's vision of the European energy space. I then analyse the extent to which the Commission's geopolitical vision has been or can be implemented in practice in four concrete empirical case studies: EU energy relations with Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean/Middle East, the Caucasus and the Russian Federation.
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