Doris Leblond
OGJ Correspondent
PARIS, Oct. 20 -- The European Union's energy security strategy is embracing a worldwide notion including not only its traditional suppliers but also Africa and Latin America. This is set out in a strategic concept paper prepared by the Commission for the informal European Council of Heads of State scheduled for Oct. 20 in Lahti, Finland.
Russia, whose President Vladimir Putin will be a dinner guest of the Council, heads the wide list of countries deemed "essential" to ensure the energy security of the 25 European Union member countries.
EU-Russia cooperation is described as "crucial" to ensure energy security of the European continent," for Russia already supplies around 25% of the oil and gas consumed in the EU. The Commission makes no bones about advocating a new reinforced partnership "which would seek a balance between expectations and interests of both sides."
On the one hand, says the paper, Russia wants a stronger presence in the EU internal energy market, long-term gas supply contracts, the integration of electricity grids, and free trade for electricity and nuclear materials "as well as the acquisition and control of downstream EU energy assets." It also wants EU investments and technology for the development of Russia's energy resources.
The EU, on the other hand, wants "nondiscriminatory and fair treatment" from Russia in terms of energy supply and EU investor access to the Russian market, "a level playing field" for investment and acquisitions in Russia's up and downstream energy infrastructure and resources, and third party access to pipelines within Russia, including transit lines from the Caspian region and Central Asia.
The EU also wants respect for competition rules and high levels of environmental security and safety, all of which could be included in a new framework agreement, insists the Commission in this give-and-take proposition.
Having dealt with Russia at some length, the Commission also insists that EU energy cooperation with other countries "remains a top priority," adding that cooperation with important energy-consuming countries is also "essential to ensure the EU's access to clean and secure energy."
Pointing out that the EU is surrounded by almost 80% of the world's hydrocarbon resources, the Commission indicates that its aim is to "create a wide network of countries, acting on the basis of shared rules or principles derived from the (EU) internal market." Interestingly, it makes special mention of Turkey, which is a candidate for EU membership. This country is becoming "a crucial energy hub for supplies from the producer regions" and, accordingly, of strategic importance for the EU's energy security.
Pushing further its energy security notion, the Commission's paper indicates that, in order to implement "a common and coherent energy security policy," an early warning system in the form of an energy correspondents' network should be established to prepare for energy crises.
