Abstract
The interdependence experienced on a global scale today has gained more importance with the increasing demand for energy resources. The situation of interdependence may cause various conflicts due to the differences in strategy between countries regarding access to energy resources. In this destructive competitive environment, hydrocarbons, especially natural gas, continue to be an essential means of competition as a strategic energy source. This situation makes the European Union and the countries that are the suppliers of the energy demand of the Union and the transition countries dependent on each other. This situation of interdependence makes energy resources the most important policy tool. Russia, one of the energy suppliers of European states, uses this advantage as an essential political pressure tool. European Union countries turn to alternative resources and areas to reduce dependency in the face of this situation. In recent years, the Eastern Mediterranean basin has been added to these areas. With the discovery of significant hydrocarbon resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, the importance of this region for European countries is increasing. However, this situation causes maritime border disputes and geopolitical conflicts between the countries of the region. This conceptual study emphasizes the solution of problems related to cross-border hydrocarbon resources and the extent to which natural gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean will be an alternative to Russian natural gas.Keywords: EU energy security, Eastern Mediterranean gas reserves, Sea border issues, Exclusive economic zoneJEL Classifications: P28, P48, K32.DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.12602
Highlights
In terms of energy consumption, it ranks third after the European Union (EU), the United States (USA), and China
There are many alternative sources for oil, it is heavily dependent on Russia for natural gas
The EU is dependent on Russia because of the affordable price of natural gas and reliable transportation routes
Summary
In terms of energy consumption, it ranks third after the European Union (EU), the United States (USA), and China. Due to the active integration process, the enlargement of the European Union and most Eastern European countries were part of the Soviet Union’s energy supply system. The European Union continues to be dependent on foreign sources to meet its energy needs. It buys oil from OPEC countries and Russia and gas from Russia, Norway, and Algeria. There are various fluctuations in the European Union-Russia relations due to Russia’s encroachment on Ukraine and the European Union’s opposition to it In this process, Russia is trying to secure its role as an influential actor by using its energy card in political and economic matters. Russia has not accepted the European Union Energy Charter, which is one of the defining documents in the European energy policy and has energy-transportation disputes with Ukraine and Belarus (Movkebayeva, 2013)
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