Europe "Isolates" Putin? Considers "Reframing" Energy Relations With Russia

It appears President Obama's "costs" imposed on Russia have boomerang'd just too much for Europe to take. As Reuters reports, The EU is seeking to create a single energy market, based on cross-border connections to improve security of supply and reduce dependence on Russia, which supplies roughly one third of EU energy. The headline pivot away from Putin, likely misses the fact that there is very little a stagnating Europe can do, even in the medium term, to 'reduce' dependence on Washington's nemesis.

As Reuters reports,

The European Union will consider "reframing" energy relations based on market conditions with Russia when the time is right and for now is focusing on building a strategic gas partnership with Ukraine, a draft document shows.

The European Commission, the EU executive, is seeking to create a single energy market, based on cross-border connections to improve security of supply and reduce dependence on Russia, which supplies roughly one third of EU energy.

Next week, the Commission is expected to publish formally its strategy on an energy union.

"When the conditions are right, the EU will consider reframing the energy relationship with Russia based on a level playing field in terms of market opening, fair competition, environmental protection and safety, for the mutual benefit of both sides," a draft of the Energy Union Package seen by Reuters says.

For now, it says particular attention will be paid to upgrading "the strategic partnership on energy" with Ukraine.

It says it will address Ukraine's importance as a transit country, as well as improving infrastructure and Ukraine's energy efficiency to reduce its dependence on imports.

Russia's long-standing gas relations with the EU and Ukraine, the main transit route for Russian gas to the EU, have deteriorated since Russia's seizure of Ukraine's Crimea region last year.

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Good luck with that 'strategy' change...

Comments

[ThisIsBob]

What are three rules of making money in the Gaz business?

Location, location, location.

[IronForge]

I don't think KSA/QAT will be able to build a pipeline to Europe through IRQ/SYR/TRK.

Why? Even "if" SYR is "Regime Changed" and ISIL as a Armed Force are subdued (by Coalition (USA's Govt and Merc) Ground Troops), there should be enough "War Party" Cells milling about to sabotage any construction efforts.

They may have to settle with a pipeline to the Med by going through JOR, LBN(by taking southern SYR, which imply a 'truce' w/ISR) , and/or even ISR.

[EddieLomax]

Why not just repurpose all the money currently being wasted by the EU development fund and build a new generation of nuclear power plants.  That helps the French out, gets Uranium from Ukraine and helps them out and cuts gas required by Europe by a large amount.

Seems pretty simple.

[Edward777]

Wel, according to Marin Katusa, an expert in energy politics, Putin will come out of this way ahead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HTyOSBSPEI&feature=youtube_

America? Depends.