Bone of contention or instrument of peace?

Gas trade plays an important role in shaping the external relations of the European Union, particularly with near abroad countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and the Former Soviet Union (FSU). But does gas play a positive role in the relations between the EU and gas exporting countries? More broadly, how does gas influence Europe’s standing in the global arena? We will present two alternative views on these divisive issues in the second part of this paper. First, we will sketch the main elements of Europe’s external gas trade.

Read the full article in our dossier: 'Europe’s energy relations: between legacy and transformation'