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Energy cooperation was one of the cornerstones of the European Union–Rus- sia relations and, in turn, was, to a large extent, shaped by the progress of the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue, which developed from 2000 to 2014. On the basis of a consistent critical analysis of official sources, the paper identifies internal and external determinants of the Russia-EU Energy Dialogue and assesses its general logic and dynamics, as well as its key outcomes. The author concludes that in the first five years of the Energy Dialogue it was the European Union who acted as its driving force, as the EU sought not only to ensure the supplies of Russian energy resources, but also to take control over their production and transporta- tion. A careful comparison of the Russia-EU Energy Dialogue key dimensions and the provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty allowed the author to identify yet another aim of the European Union, namely, to impose on Moscow the prin- ciples of a common European energy policy. However, these efforts encountered strong opposition from the Russian government. From 2006–2007 the conflict of interests had become all the more evident, as considerable changes took place both in the internal energy policy of Moscow and Brussels and Russia’s inter- national position. As a result, the content and structure of the Energy Dialogue changed: discussions on the creation of a single energy community and energy markets were overshadowed by issues of strategic planning and development of an early warning mechanism. Therefore, by 2014, when the EU abandoned the Energy Dialogue, its potential had been to a large extent exhausted. Nevertheless, the Dialogue provided Russia with extensive experience in interacting with the European Commission as a supranational body of the EU, and this experience might be in demand in the future.

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The article analyzes the development of EU — Russia energy relations through the lens of the evolution of three parameters: the political agenda (the Energy Dialogue), the institutional structure, and the legal modalities. The identification of these three aspects for assessing the evolution of EU — Russia energy relations is the novelty in the author’s approach. This study aims to identify the previous stages and assess the current state of EU — Russia energy dialogue, since they set out conditions for energy cooperation in the Baltic Sea region. This research is based on a political and legal analysis of various documents and employs various international relations theories (including integration theories). The article demonstrates that the EU nd Russia have made a transition to the integration agenda manifested in the Energy Dialogue (its current goal is the creation of a common European energy market). The author describes the process of gradual consolidation of transgovernmental and transnational institutions, which leads to depoliticization of cooperation and mutual socialization of the partners. Finally, legal discussions on the development of common rules have become more constructive. In sum, the current situation in EU — Russia energy relations is favourable and positively affects cooperation in the Baltic Sea region.

The article analyzes the development of EU — Russia energy relations through the lens of the evolution of three parameters: the political agenda (the Energy Dialogue), the institutional structure, and the legal modalities. The identification of these three aspects for assessing the evolution of EU-Russia energy relations is the novelty in the author’s approach. This study aims to identify the previous stages and assess the current state of EU — Russia energy dialogue, since they set out conditions for energy cooperation in the Baltic Sea region. This research is based on a political and legal analysis of various documents and employs various international relations theories (including integration theories). The article demonstrates that the EU and Russia have made a transition to the integration agenda manifested in the Energy Dialogue (its current goal is the creation of a common European energy market). The author describes the process of gradual consolidation of transgovernmental and transnational institutions, which leads to depoliticization of cooperation and mutual socialization of the partners. Finally, legal discussions on the development of common rules have become more constructive. In sum, the current situation in EU — Russia energy relations is favourable and positively affects cooperation in the Baltic Sea region.

The need for a sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply has long been recognized within the Community, and has been addressed on numerous occasions, notably in the Green Papers elaborated by the Commission in 2000 and 2006. Recent supply crises and rapidly escalating fuel prices have focused the minds of leaders across the European Union, as well as those of businesses and individual energy consumers. Energy policy transcends a range of different policy areas, including competition, transport, environment and energy itself. Decisions relating to energy policy in Europe are primarily within the remit of individual Member State governments, with the European Commission’s powers limited to two specific areas (creation of the European single market and matters relating to nuclear safety and security under the EURATOM Treaty). The extent of the transfer of powers towards Europe is clearly a critical decision point and in practice a sensitive balance is likely to be required between those matters for which the Commission should have responsibility and those where Member State governments retain sole authority. European officials are putting into evidence their belief that Europe’s energy predicament is acute and mention energy security as a priority issue for the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Policy commitments say that energy strategy must move beyond the internal sphere and become systematically a part of EU external relations. The Commission’s 2006 Energy Green Paper promised “a better integration of energy objectives into broader relations with third countries”.

The article attempts to highlight major institutional causes for weaknesses of multilateralism in energy relations between States. In particular, the view defended here focuses on the concept of logic of appropriateness, which helps to conceptualize the level of acceptance of norms and practices. Four various angles of institutions of energy relations are then analyzed: political vs economic angles and rational vs value angles. On these grounds, the case study about the Energy Charter process is then analyzed. In conclusion, the article argues that the Energy Charter process is an explicit attempt to create an international governance, although the issues of acceptance (conflict of appropriateness) is an important barrier to the multilateralism in energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the legal aspects of energy security in the relationships between the European Union (EU) and Russia. It also cites various areas of energy policy, such as competition, transport, environment and energy. It also claims that the decisions concerning energy policy in Europe are mainly the responsibility of individual Member State governments. The European Commission's authority are also cited, which is the creation of a single market in Europe and in matters about nuclear safety and security.