The Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Security of Energy Supplies

On February 28, 2007, Hudson Institute Senior Fellow and Director of Center for Eurasian Policy Zeyno Baran presented her study entitled “The Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Security of Energy Supplies” at a public hearing held by the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament in Brussels. (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/dv/afet_poster343-5/afet_poster343-5en.pdf)

This Study (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/dv/studybar/studybaran.pdf) was commissioned by the European Parliament on the external aspects of the security of energy supplies. The hearing was organized in order to provide input into the debate ahead of the Spring Energy Summit and aims, as such, to study possibilities for a European external policy in the field of energy and, in particular, in respect to the security of energy supplies (http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/organes/afet/afet_20070228_0900_audition.htm).

Baran’s study analyzes the issue of energy security within Common Foreign and Security Policy. It includes a survey of existing areas where energy security has been discussed or plays a formal part in CFSP in relation to third countries. It critically assesses the prospects for the further integration or mainstreaming of energy issues into CFSP, and further builds upon the suggestions laid out in the joint paper from the Commission/SG/HR for the European Council entitled “An External Policy to Service Europe's Energy Interests.” (LINK) The study also offers recommendations for expanding CFSP to incorporate an energy security policy that responds to a changing political and security environment, while balancing longstanding CFSP priorities set out in the Treaties.