EU energy security: Implications for the UK

Summary:

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the fragile state of the European Union's (EU) energy security. How has the EU responded and what does this mean for the United Kingdom (UK)?

The EU is highly dependent on Russia for its energy, notably gas. It imports over 80% of its gas, with Russia providing around 40% of those imports. The UK is far less reliant on Russian gas than the EU, but security of EU gas supply matters to the UK because it affects the prices of UK gas and electricity, it could affect the UK's own security of supply if gas imports into the UK were re-directed to the EU, and because energy exports are economically important to Russia and changes may therefore affect geopolitical relations.

The EU’s approach since the Russian invasion of Ukraine has distinguished between short and longer-term measures. The invasion has also stimulated UK and EU cooperation on the security of energy supply.

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