World Review: Russia’s gas pipeline deals split European unity
RUSSIA’S South Stream gas pipeline project is the European Union’s most controversial challenge in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It impacts the bilateral relationship with Russia and relationships between the 28 member states in the EU.
Building the pipeline has already started in Bulgaria and Russia. Conflict over the project highlights the internal structural weaknesses and competing national interests between the EU’s 28 member states and their often short-term defined strategic interests. It also demonstrates the EU’s inability to speak with one voice towards Moscow or present a coherent strategic response to Russia’s geopolitically defined energy and foreign policies.
Regulation for a competitive gas market is the only weapon the EU has to strengthen resilience of its energy supply security and taking wider economic and public interests into account.