The European Union's Energy Security Challenges

<p>Recent increases in energy prices and a steady escalation in global energy demand - expected to rise by nearly 60% over the next 20 years - have led U.S. policy-makers to engage in a wide ranging debate over how best to address the country's future energy requirements. Similarly energy security has become a policy priority for the European Union (EU) and its 27 member states. The EU imports about 50% of its energy needs. Barring significant changes the European Commission expects this figure to rise to 65% by 2030. About half of the EU's natural gas imports and 30% of its imported oil come from Russia. Europe's growing dependence on Russian energy and long-term energy agreements between Russian firms and some European governments have fueled speculation that Moscow is using the energy weapon to try to influence European foreign and economic policy.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>