EU-Russia: mutual energy relations

Depleting fossil fuel reserves in EU and energy consumption growth lead to the fact that the European Union is becoming increasingly dependent on energy imports. The most important energy partner of the EU is Russia which delivers the biggest volumes of oil and natural gas to european countries. High rate of energy dependency on Russia is - especially in the context of gas crisis - perceived as a threat to EU energy security and it is necessary to deal with it immediately. The aims of the European Union policy on energy are to achieve higher territorial diversification of fossil fuel suppliers and transit countries and diversification of the EU energy mix, to promote renewable forms of energy and to establish common energy market to ensure solidarity among EU member states. European Union also should learn how to act as "one actor" and "one voice" on energy relations with Russia because that could help to ensure better negotiation position and to become a sovereign partner in mutual energy relations with Russia.