The European Union and Russian Federation Energy Relations: Petrification or Revival?

Abstract: This thesis is devoted to understand the relationships between the European Union (EU) and Russian Federation (RF). The study is concentrated on the fields of energy (Oil and Gas) in their strategic partnership. The events during the last century in the global energy markets have put the European Union face to face with new challenges. Obviously, it is claimed that growth dependency on Russian energy supply may cause certain economic and political challenges to the EU. Member States import dependency, as well as a rapidly rising global demand on energy supply which will eventually increase the risk for energy security of the EU. Russia is one of the significant energy suppliers; however Russia is not a trustworthy partner which uses energy resources for economic and political lever. This alarms the EU about the significance of common approach in the field of external energy policy. The approaches of the EU and Russia to the International Relations (IR) are contradictory. The EU’s approaches are more based on Institutionalism, Liberalism, and attempting to liberalize Russian energy market. By contrast, Russian approach based on Realism, which tries to undermine EU’s energy policy. Overall, both sides’ behaviors are aimed at tightening energy relation with each other. This policy may drive from the absence of reliable alternative energy supply and market. The main objective of the thesis is to analyze problematic aspects in the EU and Russian energy relations, simultaneously assessing contradictions within the EU.