The Politics of EU-Russia Energy Relations
Article from: OGEL 2 (2009), in EU - Russia relations
Introduction
There are few subjects as controversial and emotive as the energy relationship between the EU and Russia. On the one side, there are those who argue that the nearly 500 million EU consumers are very fortunate to have Russia as a huge energy provider as its neighbour. On the other side, there are those who argue this is a curse as it allows Russia to 'blackmail' European countries by threatening to turn off oil and gas supplies or by offering lucrative deals to European companies in an effort to 'divide and rule' the EU. Oil and gas are Russia's biggest exports to the EU, and Russia is ...