Abstract
The subject of the thesis is about EU-Russia relations. I am really interested in knowing what the key points are and the challenges of their relations is a very difficult one: that is the energy challenge.
The energy challenge is indeed one of the greatest tests for Europe. Unlike the financial crisis, it could take decades to put our energy system onto a new, more sustainable and secure path. We need urgent and ambitious decisions today to prepare our society for a low-carbon, efficient and democratic energy future.
The problematic aspects of European dependence on Russian energy became especially obvious during the Ukrainian gas crisis, and it was reconfirmed by Russian energy diplomacy against Belarus, Georgia, and Lithuania. These developments have clearly showed that Russia uses its energy leverage as an active component of its foreign policy and the EU is quite vulnerable to the Russian gas policies. In order to overcome these vulnerabilities, the EU has to diversify its energy resources.
All indeed recognise that the right level of intervention is at least the European Union. The challenges facing us are too overwhelming to be resolved by one Member State. The unpredictability of energy security, the volatility in energy prices and the delays in new technology and infrastructure investments call for decisive action.
