Abstract

The European Union's hydrocarbon energy supply depends heavily on imports. While the European Commission has recommended diversifying and increasing domestic resources, notably with renewable resources which should grow to 20% by 2020, dependence on hydrocarbon imports will remain not only important, but will increase. Particular attention must thus be paid to the question of transportation, and also to the countries of origin, investments in infrastructure, their protection, relations with transit countries, `competing consumers' - notably China and emerging countries, but also ...