Publication

This brief contemplates the major challenges surrounding the gas trade between the European Union and Russia. The challenges include 1) the questionable reliability of Russian gas deliveries through Ukraine in the winter 2015/2016; 2) Russia's plans to build new infrastructure for its gas exports to the EU, which will bypass Ukraine; and 3) the implementation of EU rules to liberalize its internal gas market. The brief’s author further recommends, among other things, that EU members should strengthen the security of their gas imports from Russia while also diversifying their suppliers and reducing their consumption of fossil fuels.