“Energy security” has become a key word in understanding European politics. Even more than its world environmental leadership, the European Union is apparently defining itself around the need-or the perceived need-of developing a common energy policy, despite the fact that under the European Treaty energy is left to the member states.1The commission, Europe’s executive body, has set three goals for its energy policy: Creation of an internal market. Security of supply. Promotion of environmental sustainability.The idea that Europe’s energy supplies are not secure enough rests upon the belief that Europe’s increasing dependence on imported hydrocarbons “c...