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The most interesting issue the document includes concerning energy
security is an international energy policy priority which again offers member
states ,,to speed up the development of a common approach to external en-
ergy policy’’  instead of creating common external energy policy (European
Council Action Plan 2007-2009)
So called ‘’supranational entity’’ – the  European Union including its
common Institutions, policies, market, currency etc is not able to agree on
common energy policy till today.  Energy policy still remains under the na-
tional competence of its member states. For European consumers energy se-
curity is viewed from ‘’getting reliable and adequate supply of energy at
reasonable price’’ but perceiving the concept from this frame only leads to
energy dependence. (The issue will be discussed). Dealing with the problem
from national security frame cannot be regarded as the wrong point, as it has
already been mentioned -XXI century converted energy security into an in-
separable part of national security, although if energy security becomes a part
of national security both ‘’inner’’ and ‘’outer’’ threats should be taken into
consideration. But till now EU papers cannot combine these two components
in one official, obligatory format. European countries work together on do-
mestic issues, such as: completing European electricity and gas market, new
strategic European energy technology plan etc., yet, the issue remains open
regarding energy security (externally).
In January 2006 Shell published the report called ‘’The Shell Global
Scenario to 2025’’ which underlined the declining interest in energy cooper-
ation in the context of rising nationalism. The report stated: ‘’loss of sense of
common purpose in approaching energy security.’’ (Shell Global Scenario to
2025) Indeed Member states have pursued a multitude of often-conflicting
external energy policies that has served to increase the vulnerability of EU
energy dependence. In this regard, Wider Black Sea region should be men-
tioned. Developing the East-West Energy Corridor plays vital role in energy
diversification. On paper all EU member states recognize importance of en-
ergy diversification but in practice member states pursue contradictory en-
ergy policies. 
Today EU is supplied by three main sources: Russia, Algeria and Nor-
way. According to BP statistics 2006 the first place is given to Russia (50% of
natural gas and 30% of oil is imported from Russia). It’s no more secret Russia
has deep ties with Central Asian countries especially with Kazakhstan, Turk-
menistan and Uzbekistan. Russia has secured long term contracts with Kaza-
khstan and Turkmenistan for purchasing and re-exporting their energy
sources by her (Russian) pipeline networks. This relationship was consoli-
dated by the agreements made during President Putin’s trilateral meeting
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with the states’ leaders in May 2007 granting Russia increased control over
Kazakh and Turkmen energy exports to Europe (Deal would upgrade
Prikaspiiski natural gas pipeline) (Sergei Blagov) So, no surprise, that EU en-
ergy market contains quite big amount of Central Asian energy sources which
will increase in coming years as the world energy demand is going up. Ac-
cording to ‘’BP statistical Review of World Energy ‘’ in 2006 oil imports from
Russia and Central Asia reached 5 million barrels per day and 132 billion
cubic meters of natural gas import. Rising demand indicates that Europe’s
dependence on Russian energy will continue to grow. Knowing about Caspian
high energy potential EU activated its relation with the region, trying to re-
ceive Caspian energy resources without Russian assistance. Projects have
been designed (Nabucco, Trans-Caspian and White Stream pipelines) and
were forwarded to the parties for their review. Member states preferred Russ-
ian offers: Blue Stream II, South Stream and North Stream etc. Member states
lost the sense of common purpose in energy security and blocked chances
for energy diversification. 
For example: NABUCCO pipeline (with 25-50bcm transportation capac-
ity) which intends to take Central Asian energy resources to Austria through
Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary has potential to pipe Iranian gas in it
(from South Pars field). Some experts are even predicting Iraq’s possible par-
ticipation. But January 25, 2008 agreement between OMV and GAZPROM un-
dercut NABUCCO project. On January 25 Austria’s state-dominated OMV
energy company and GAZPROM signed an agreement to turn Baumgarten gas
transmission center near Vienna into a joint venture. (Vladimir Socor, 2008)
Owned 100% by OMV until now, and ranked as one of the largest gas trans-
mission center in continental Europe, Baumgarten was designed terminus of
the EU’s NABUCCO pipeline project. Turning Baumgarten into a joint venture
with GAZPROM the agreement deprives NABUCCO of its final outlet and pre-
empts the market in GAZPROM’S favor. Before OMV and GAZPROM agreement
Hungary preferred to cooperate with GAZPROM to extend the existing Russ-
ian-Turkish Blue Stream gas pipeline into EU territory through Bulgaria, Ro-
mania, Hungary and Austria (Judy Dempsey, 2007).
In December 18, 2006 GAZPROM extended already existing contract
with Bulgarian company Bulgargas. The new agreement insures to increase
the volume of transit via Bulgaria. In return, the Bulgarian government has
committed itself to cooperate on gas pipeline projects, and has given its con-
sent to the extension and use of its underground gas storage facilities. As a re-
sult, GAZPROM will be able to use Bulgaria’s infrastructure in connection with
the planned construction of the southern pipeline designed to compete with
NABUCCO project (GAZPROM in Europe: Faster Extension in 2006).
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