The 2009 Russian-Ukrainian Gas Dispute: Lessons for European Energy Crisis Management after Lisbon

The dispute between Russia and Ukraine of January 2009 brought about the largest interruption in the supply of natural gas in the history of the European Union (EU). Given the significance of Russian gas to the EU, the 2009 crisis triggered a challenge that had to be resolved swiftly and adequately in cooperation with all parties concerned. Against the backdrop of the Union’s foreign policy leitmotiv of ‘effective multilateralism’, this article aims to critically assess the EU’s interventions and draw lessons for future energy crisis management. Furthermore, it analyses the implications of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty for EU external action in the field of energy crisis management.