The EU’s dependence on external fossil fuel suppliers remains very high. Political instability in many producing and neighbouring countries poses an additional challenge to the flow of energy, particularly gas. The EU has a range of options to strengthen its energy resilience, such as preserving long-standing trade relationships with producing countries, developing alternative import routes and strengthening domestic energy efficiency and renewable energy production. What is the best policy course for the Union? What are the market drivers and the geopolitical constraints of the EU’s external energy policy? The seminar addresses these issues, with particular reference to EU-Russia energy relations and current EU energy policies in the South Caucasus and Caspian region.
Opening remarks: Juha Jokela, Programme Director, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Speakers:
Tracey German, Deputy Dean of Academic Studies (Research) at the Defence Studies Department, King’s College London
Andrei Belyi, Associate Professor, Centre for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Law, the University of Eastern Finland
Comments: Petteri Kuuva, Deputy Director General, Energy Department, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Finland
Chair: Marco Siddi, Senior Research Fellow, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs
For further information, please contact: Sannamari Bagge, tel. +358 9 432 7711, sannamari.bagge@fiia.fi