Gas market developments and their effect on relations between Russia and the EU

Sadek Boussena (1) , Catherine Locatelli (2)

1 LEPII - Laboratoire d'Economie de la Production et de l'Intégration Internationale
2 LEPII-EDDEN - équipe EDDEN

The changes on the EU gas market are likely to affect Europe's relations with its natural gas suppliers who are facing increasing competition. Heading this list of producing countries is Russia. Gas relations between Russia and the EU are characterized by strong interdependence. But these relations are currently being hampered by serious lack of understanding, making it difficult for the two parties to reach agreement on a new energy partnership. The aim of this article is to analyse the effects of this new European gas context on Gazprom's strategy and how the issues of energy security and cooperation between Russia and the EU will be affected by this new order.

Les changements sur le marché gazier européen vont probablement affecter les relations de l'Europe avec ses fournisseurs de gaz naturel, soumis à une concurrence croissante, et au premier rang desquels figure la Russie. Les relations gazières entre la Russie et l'UE sont caractérisées par une forte interdépendance. Pourtant, malgré l'importance stratégique de ces relations, d'importantes incompréhensions persistent, bloquant pour l'heure la signature d'un nouveau partenariat énergétique entre les deux parties. Le but de cet article est d'analyser les effets de ce nouveau contexte gazier européen sur la stratégie de Gazprom, sur la sécurité énergétique et la coopération entre la Russie et l'UE.

Mots clés: INTERNATIONAL GAS MARKET; ENERGY SECURITY; GAS SUPPLY; RUSSIA; EUROPEAN UNION

Domaines: Economies et finances

Sadek Boussena, Catherine Locatelli. Gas market developments and their effect on relations between Russia and the EU. OPEC Energy Review, 2011, 35 (1), pp.27-46. ⟨halshs-00578136⟩