Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation

16 March 2011, Brussels

The debate about European energy dependence on Russian natural gas has so far predominantly focused on security of supply aspects, and it will probably be bound to political considerations for a long time to come. Notwithstanding, some elementary questions seem to have been left out of the debate: Why is Europe so insistent on asking Russia to invest more in capacity, when it is planning to de-carbonise its energy mix and diversify its sources? Who can give a clear position on the future European needs for natural gas? Can the EU really have a "strategic partnership" with Russia as long as its prospects in future energy needs are left unclear? 

A Citizen's Controversy with Catherine Locatelli, Research Fellow, Centre National des Recherché Scientifiques, and Philip Lowe, Director General, DG Energy of the European Commission.

The debate was moderated by Pierre Defraigne, Executive Director of the Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation.

  Report

  Philip Lowe's Presentation