Why a Political Accord is Needed to Make EU-Russia Energy Relations Work

EU-Russia relations have entered into a spiral of misunderstandings and of an unprecedented ‘securitisation’ of energy-related affairs. The concept of energy security has gained a much broader meaning than that of simple energy dependency and supply shortages. The concept of energy security stems from general perceptions of threats coming from ‘outside’ and, in the case of the EU, Russia represents a ‘natural’ threat to energy security.

Russia’s reaction to the European securitisation of energy supplies has, by and large, been to reject European regulatory norms and practices.