Energy Security of the European Union after the Ukraine War: Crises, Strategies and Transformation

Abstract

The dependency in the energy sector between the EU and the USSR continued to face challenges in the aftermath of the Cold War. This study examines the transformation in European energy security following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The process of transitioning from ‘energy sovereignty’ – which is the member countries’ understanding – to ‘energy solidarity’ within the Union has been analyzed through crises. Necessary data has been obtained from Eurostat and studies conducted by independent organizations. In light ofthe data, it is observed that the European Union has shifted from an interdependency understanding – aligned with soft power policies, which are adopted as a valid strategy for energy security against Russia – to hard power policies defined by sanctions. It also appears that the EU is trying to ensure energy security through methods such as resource diversification, demand reduction, increasing the share of renewable energy sources, and conducting collective procurement negotiations across the Union. In this way, it can be said that the spirit of solidarity in the energy sector within the EU has come to the forefront compared to the period before the invasion.