Külügyi Szemle - A Teleki László Intézet Külpolitikai Tanulmányok Központja folyóirata - 2005 (4. évfolyam)
2005 / 3-4. szám - ENERGIAPOLITIKA - Szemerkényi Réka: Piac vagy politika. Európai energiabiztonsági koncepciók
Résumé Résumé Market or Politics European Energy Security Concepts In analysing post-Cold War developments in international energy security thinking, the two key determinants, the falling apart of the Soviet Union on one hand, and Iraq's occupation of Kuwait are often quoted as developments that opened the way for market forces in energy security. The article provides an overview of the developments in post-Cold War security concepts in Europe and enlists the main elements of this new European energy policy. First, integration and diversification. The most immediate challenges lying ahead after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact and of the Comecon were the energy-integration of the two parts of the continent, and indeed, of the Western part of Europe itself, parallelly with the developing of credible alternatives. Diversification of energy resources available for Central European countries was key for the reduction of their energy dependence on Russia. Second, turning the energy policy into a common policy. The course European thinking was to involve energy policy among the other truly common policies. This process, however clearly defined in various documents, is slow and cautious. Third, liberalisation and globalisation proved powerful economic ideals so much so that energy policy became part of the global trend in some practical ways. Fourth, regulation and embargoes. Despite the overall trend of liberalisation, some key European documents underline continued state responsibility in providing energy security. And last, the article outlines the major international hypotheses regarding the relationship between the state and the energy sector, concluding that these hypotheses tend not to stand the test of reality. In the article's final analysis, it is underlined that while energy market liberalisation is likely to remain the main leading force in energy policy in the coming decades as well, this does not mean that traditional energy security thinking is all pervasive. To the contrary, the number of countries that have actually shifted from the concept of the strategic character of energy security towards that of energy as commodity is small, the shift is yet weak and even there, the state has to use its regulative power because it continues to be seen as responsible provider of energy security. On the other hand, the concept of energy strategy continues to drive political decision making in many parts of the world. 2005. ősz-tél 201
