Trade unions and the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue (10 February 2004)

A recent meeting of Europe’s energy unions, organized by EPSU, considered the growing dependence of the EU on oil and gas from countries outside of the EU, especially Russia. Russia exports a major part of its oil and gas to the EU and the EU imports a growing share of its energy sources from Russia. The EU and Russia are also examining whether to interconnect the networks for transmission of electricity. Major European energy companies are investors in Russia while Russian companies such as Gazprom and UES aim to become players in the European energy sector. Recently Russian President Putin suggested creating a European energy community to institutionalise the relations that exist and which currently are called the EU-Russia Energy Dialogue. The 5th EU-Russia Industrialists Round Table has already created an energy steering group (December 2003).