Changing vectors of Russia’s energy exports and the Baltic Sea region

ENThe EU’s determination to enhance its energy security through the diversification of supply routes, the interconnection of national grids, the enforcement of anti-monopoly regulation, and ensuring better cooperation and coordination within the Union, has made – and continues to make – an impact on Russia’s strategy of energy exports. Gazprom, the company that has been criticized for monopoly practices and politicized business actions, is amending its attitude in compliance with the Third Energy Package and offers new flexible terms to attract customers in Europe. Nevertheless, the transition of Russia’s energy export strategy towards friendly and civilized methods is too slow, and Moscow continues employing some of its traditional instruments to promote Gazprom’s business and, simultaneously, using Gazprom as a political weapon. The new sanctions against Russia, which the US now officially includes in the group of ‘toxic’ nations together with Iran and North Korea, can make cooperation with Russian energy suppliers more difficult for the Europeans, even though the Russians – especially if the sanctions are expanded to include the gas sector of Russia – will probably try to do their best to keep the westward gas flows safe and expanding.