Union Européenne / Russie : les enjeux stratégiques d'un partenariat énergétique

Overview

On the occasion of the sixth EU-Russia summit (30th October 2000, Paris), it was agreed to institute an energy dialogue on a regular basis between the EU and Russia to enable progress to be made in the definition and arrangements for an EU-Russia Energy Partnership.

As noted in the Joint Declaration adopted at this Summit, the energy partnership "will provide an opportunity to raise all the questions of common interest relating to the sector, including the introduction of co-operation on energy saving, rationalisation of production and transport infrastructures, European investment possibilities, and relations between producer and consumer countries. The planned ratification of the Energy Charter Treaty by Russia and the improvement of the investment climate will be important aspects in this context".

Why such a partnership?

Russia and the European Union are natural partners in the energy sector. Russia has been a reliable supplier of energy into the European Union for many years, despite periods of internal difficulties. Likewise, the European Union continues to be the dominant market for Russian energy exports. This strong mutual interest and interdependence means that energy is an ideal sector in which relations can be progressed significantly – a kind of test case – for the further development of an EU-Russia strategic partnership. Success in the energy sector could then serve as a model for other areas of common interest.

Some figures illustrate the interdependence of the EU and Russia in the energy sector. Russian energy exports account, in value, for some 45% of exports to the EU. 50% of Russian oil exports (crude and products) of 218 million tonnes of oil equivalent (toe) were to the EU in 2001. This represented 20% of the EU's oil imports and 17% of total EU oil consumption.

Some 63% (130 billion cubic metres (Bcm)) of Russia's natural gas exports of 205 Bcm were delivered to European countries in the year 2000, with contractual requirements to increase deliveries to around 200 Bcm by the year 2008. Approximately 56% (73 Bcm) of the natural gas exported to Europe in 2000 was delivered to the EU.

The energy sector in Russia represents a major opportunity both for foreign investment and for export revenues. The need for new capital in the sector has been estimated at between €560 and €650 over the period to 2020.

Moreover the EU and Russia have a mutual interest in enhancing the overall energy security of the continent.

The Energy Dialogue with Russia has rapidly become one of the key issues in bi-lateral EU-Russia relations and one in which the format of frank, open discussions have already permitted substantial progress to be made.