EU-Russia energy diplomacy: The need for an active strategic partnership. EU Diplomacy Paper 4/2012, July 2012

摘要

This paper explains the conflictive and cooperative elements of energy diplomacybetween the European Union (EU) and Russia. It argues that interdependence formsthe underlying principle of this relationship and creates both sensitivity andvulnerability for the interdependent parties, thus carrying the sperms of both conflictand cooperation. Both sides would be negatively affected by the other side’s noncooperationwithin the current policy framework and the prevailing mistrust andrecurring tensions can be explained by this sensitivity. However, even if both sides’policies were adjusted, vulnerability interdependence would still prevent them fromseriously reducing their energy cooperation. It is necessary then to see how EU andRussian energy diplomacy can converge and how their strategic energy partnershipcan be cemented.