Abstract

“Russian-European Partnership Agreement”, Russian-European Energy Strategy and the TACIS Plan all provide support for Russia-EU energy and trade cooperation. Russia and Europe Summit, energy dialogue mechanism, Energy Technology Center, common energy projects and Russia-EU energy cooperation are complementary by nature. This dissertation argues that Russia has a long history of cooperation with the EU on energy trade. The reason why it survives until today is that Russia and the EU keep open exchanges, which create good bilateral relations as a basis for energy trade. Economic and political cooperation mechanisms, based on energy pipeline infrastructure, long-term trade contracts, the law and energy dialogues have provided an effective platform for Russia-EU energy trade. Russia-EU energy strategy functions as a guide for the Russia-EU energy trade, and Russian-EU energy dialogue, the European Energy Charter mechanism, Russia-EU common economic space program are the“troika”driving bilateral cooperation in energy trade.

The conflicts are closely related to their different energy interests and strategic objectives, the strategy of divide-and-rule and Cold War's cultural legacy. For instance, politicization of the energy price setting is used as a lever in energy diplomacy; EU was dissatisfied with Russia's energy diplomacy, and proposed that Russian energy prices should be linked with Russia's eligibility to join the WTO. However, the Russia-EU energy conflict is contained under relatively effective control and management, thanks to a set of comprehensive energy conflict management mechanisms, which include early warning mechanism for energy conflict, resolution mechanisms for energy conflict, energy diversification and integration mechanisms.

Russia-EU energy trade is a major capital and technology source for Russia and an effective support for sustainable development economic momentum of the EU. Energy trade between EU and Russia is more cooperative than competitive and plays a facilitating role in maintaining world security and stability.