This thesis asks the question whether dependence on fossil fuels from Russia for domestic energy supply influenced the support for sanctions against Russia of EU member states following the Russian...Show moreThis thesis asks the question whether dependence on fossil fuels from Russia for domestic energy supply influenced the support for sanctions against Russia of EU member states following the Russian annexation of Crimea and activities in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Support for sanctions is measured using data from previous research by Silva II and Selden (2020). Using multiple regression analysis, several other explanatory factors are accounted for, including expected trade change, FDI stock and former membership of the Eastern Bloc. A small, significant, positive relation between fossil fuel dependence and support for sanctions is found. This leads to three main conclusions: First, energy dependence does not seem to negatively influence the support for sanctions against Russia by EU member states. Second, the analysis suggest a positive relation between these variables might exist. Third, the other explanatory factors accounted for each have no significant influence on support for sanctions. In this time when the EU-Russia energy relations are being reconsidered, this sheds an important light on the debate on energy security and interdependence theory in EU-Russia context.Show less
Natural gas is seen as a suitable transition fuel to make the transition to more sustainable energy sources possible. However, domestic production in several countries is declining. This had led to...Show moreNatural gas is seen as a suitable transition fuel to make the transition to more sustainable energy sources possible. However, domestic production in several countries is declining. This had led to governments working on safeguarding their security of supply and therefore getting increasingly dependent on international projects. One of the international projects established to make up for the declining domestic production is the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Several countries have however expressed their dissatisfaction on the pipeline and believe that the project is politically motivated. The discussion on the project has been on the forefront of international relations over the years. Many observers and scholars have written about the negative implications it could have. But despite the many negative views, some countries still participate. This thesis explores why the pipeline is economically and politically beneficial for the country that is directly connected to it: Germany. Germany has been focusing on promotion of investment and sustainable growth over the years. The energy transition is one of the most important factors with regard to this. In this specific case, the pipeline is predicted to provide gains for Germany as it helps with the transition. The government regards the pipeline as a purely commercial project, which plays an important role in safeguarding security of supply and in the energy transition in their case. The concerns risen by other countries are not considered a risk on a national level. Germany is able to act as a buffer between Europe and Russia, which it has always done throughout history and can therefore also mediate for third parties.Show less
This thesis compares the EU’s discourse on its energy relations with Russia prior to the Ukraine crisis and after it. The discourse analysis is embedded in a Constructivist framework and focuses on...Show moreThis thesis compares the EU’s discourse on its energy relations with Russia prior to the Ukraine crisis and after it. The discourse analysis is embedded in a Constructivist framework and focuses on the question whether continuities and discontinuities in the discourse indicate a successful or deficient construction of EU-Russian energy relations by the EU. This analysis shows that even though there are discontinuities between the two periods, these do not indicate a major failure in developing a suitable energy strategy. This evaluation is based on the result that the discontinuities found only represent shifts in the emphases on different elements of the discourse. The early discourse therefore already included most of the strategic elements that became necessary to deal properly with Russia and to ensure the EU’s energy security once the Crisis broke out.Show less
