Energy security in 21 century has become a primarily problem in the world, especially in the Europe. The European Union has consisting from 27 member states. The energy problem, energy policy remains primarily responsibility of the European Union member states. European Union energy securities are facing same serious challenge. We know that European countries to be dependent from Russian and Middle East energy supplies. Today European Union member states main interest to protect energy security of Europe.
To the energy security of Europe has impact by both internal; and external factor. Internal factor is the steadily rising energy prices, declining energy European energy production and instability in energy producing regions. The second threat to the European energy security is the external factor, as we know Europe union countries energy imports come primarily from Russia and the Middle East, where approximately 70% of global oil and gas supplies originate. Yet the Middle East regions have a war, terrorism and political instability and the Russia use of its energy as tools, these are external factor which affect to the energy security of Europe.
European Union energy security is facing same serious challenge. The primarily challenge is dependency on Russia energy supplies. European Union dependent on Russian energy, European Union currently imports over half of its natural gas from Russia. EU dependency from Russian oil and gas it give chance to Russia use its own natural resources (oil and gas) as tools in its own foreign policy for to protect national interest of Russia .The strategy of Russia using the country's vast natural resources to restore the greatness lost after the break-up of the Soviet Union. The problematic aspect of European dependency on Russian energy became especially obvious during the Ukrainian gas crisis and Russian energy diplomacy against Belarus, Georgia and Lithuania. And one of other thing is Gaspromization Russia has succeed long term contract with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan for purchase and re-export this countries energy resources through Russian pipeline network. Russian purchases this countries energy by low price and supply to Europe twice a price.
With reference to European Union need new alternative energy resources for to protect energy security of European Union .Oil and gas in the Caspian region primarily in Azerbaijan; Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan constitute the most accessible alternative energy supplies for Europe. Especially Azerbaijan has emerged as a key partner of the United States of America and European Union states in an energy security of Europe, European Union access Caspian energy resources, without Russian influence.
Azerbaijan was become major oil and gas producer and transport country. The energy resources of Azerbaijan give a chance to Azerbaijan to maximize benefit from its own energy resources by becoming on active player in the global market; this is a better to integration of Azerbaijan into European Union energy markets.
On the western side interest in south Caucasus security and development of energy supplies. In Europe both organization NATO and EU’s interest’s are growing in the energy security issue, because of this region can play an important role as an energy security provider, and also as a major alternative to the Russian energy. It’s thus European Union certain amount of gas and oil from the region will reach Europe market near future. Baku- Tbilisi –Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (BTE) gas pipeline constitute only infrastructure for bringing Caspian energy to the European market without under the Russian control. The other main important of south Caucasus region is emerging as transit corridor for to the connecting central Asian to the European market
Azerbaijan (south Caucasus) consolidating independent transit routes to Europe, Azerbaijan is a primarily energy corridor for to supplies central Asian energy to the Europe. This is a most important and easy way for supply central Asian oil and gas to Europe oil and gas can be across by the sea from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan, adding to the already considerable Azerbaijani oil supplies fueling the BTC pipeline and reaching Europe.
NABUCCO: The Nabucco gas pipeline project is main project for to bring central Asian gas to Europe. The Nabucco pipeline project will go through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria.conustruction of nabucco pipeline in 2008,then pipeline to start carring gas in 2011.when it is up 30 billion cubic metres gas will be running per year.After the building of Nabucca pipeline Central Asian (Turkmenistan ) gas across via caspian sea to Azerbaijan,where it would connect to pipeline network which already built (Bku-Tiblisii-Erzurum gas pipeline). Azerbaijan would became is a key partner in the Nabucco project, and now is considered to be the main alternative to Russia supplier of gas to Europe.If the Nabucco pipline project will be realized it will be one of the main alternative to the Russian gas but theye have Russian influence becouse of , an agreement was signed between Russia and Turkmenistan in 2007.Acoording to this agreement Russia has succeeded long term contract with Turkmenistan for purchasing and re-exporting energy resources of these countries via Russian pipeline network.Theye have Russian influence but irrespective of Russian influence it will be realized.
Qafqaz University:
Department international Relations
Bakhtiyar Badalov
Source
1.http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9009041
2.http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-ukraine/energy_security_3198.jsp
3.Jourlan of Caspian
4.http://www.isdp.eu/files/publications/scornell/sc08europesenergy.pdf