Go South! Southern dimension of the V4 states’ energy policy strategies – An assessment of viability and prospects

Joanna Dyduch,Artur Skorek

doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111372

Abstract

The energy policy of The Visegrad Group states (V4: Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary) is being challenged by, among many other factors, dependence on the import of energy resources, increasing environmental pressure, insufficient and disappointing process of energy policy Europeanisation. Therefore, all V4 states are seeking new energy policy solutions and directions, which is seen as a condition for both economic and political development. This paper provides a conceptualisation of the geopolitical dimensions of energy policy strategy, empirically focusing on its Southern direction. Firstly, it aims to identify and analyse the key areas of strategic thinking about energy security in the Visegrad states. Secondly, it attempts to answer the question of place and importance of the Southern Dimension (SD) in V4 energy policy strategies. In other words, it investigates whether the V4 states energy security can be improved by deepening energy cooperation with partners from southern regions, in particular with the MENA region. The hypothesis to be verified by this study states that the more hawkish V4 states’ energy security strategies are, the greater their preference for the liberalisation of the international energy market. The article follows the qualitative approach and relies on the case study methodology.

Highlights

The paper provides an overview of the current place and importance of the concept of a comprehensive geopolitical diversification of energy strategies in the Visegrad Group (V4) states.1 The conceptualisation of the objectives and directions of V4’s energy policy strategies is influ enced by a number of internal and external factors
All of the V4 countries have taken significant steps to alter their geopolitical position – strengthen their security and engage more actively in Western alliances. Efforts to reduce their dependence on Russian energy resources provided an important manifestation of these assertive policies
Resources from Middle East and North Africa (MENA) constitute a small share of their energy mixes and energy imports

Summary

Introduction

The paper provides an overview of the current place and importance of the concept of a comprehensive geopolitical diversification of energy strategies in the Visegrad Group (V4) states. The conceptualisation of the objectives and directions of V4’s energy policy strategies is influ enced by a number of internal and external factors. Vliegenthart, all of these issues led to the emergence of a specific variant of capitalism in the V4 states which the authors called ‘Dependent Market Economies’ (DME).4 To move beyond their semiperiphery economic and political status, they have been attempting to pursue more complex and comprehensive, and more assertive,. We claim that increasing the level of politicisation and states’ involvement in formulating economic public policies (e.g. energy policy) may result in the strengthening of liberalisation tendencies, in terms of international trade cooperation. Developing countries pursuing their national interests may choose to support free trade rather than protect their internal markets. It is divided into two subsections, dealing with diversification and infrastructure, respectively

Theoretical and methodological remarks

Diversification

Infrastructure

Findings

Conclusions and policy implications