In Urgent Need of a Comprehensive EU Energy Policy

The conflict in Georgia has brought the security of Europe’s energy supply back to the front burner. Following significant diversification away from the Middle East during the 1970-80s, Russia now supplies about one-third of the EU’s total energy imports, with another large share coming from the Caspian region, partly shipped through Georgia.

In recent years, the European Commission has attempted several times to create a European energy policy, but with all important competences resting with the national governments, it has been mostly unsuccessful, and often characterised by competing national strategies.

>> In Urgent Need of a Comprehensive EU Energy Policy  September 2008 [PDF, 562 KB]