The European Natural Gas Market

摘要

The European Union started the introduction ofcompetition in the European market for natural gas. Today,mid-2016, the process of restructuring is still going on. Inparallel, important changes in geopolitical, environmentaland technological determinants can be observed in theEuropean and global energy and gas markets. These changeshave been highly influential in generating ‘reactive’ policies inthe European Union, both in Brussels as well as in the MemberStates. The evolution of the European natural gas policy creatinga strongly regulated version of a ‘well-functioning’ gasmarket remains a highly politicized and instable experiment.The values attached to natural gas are constantly shifting betweenthe economics, to security of supply and sustainability.Moreover, the importance attached to these values and theiroperationalization are different in the various parts of Europe.Therewith, the creation of ‘well-functioning’ EU gas marketwill always remain a politicized and never ending story.