The External Dimension of the Energy Union

Led by: Andris Piebalgs (former EU Commissioner)

Keynote adress by: Maroš Šefčovič (Vice-President, European Commission)

The Context

In the ‘Energy Union’ package of February 2015, the Juncker Commission stated that “ensuring security of supply” would be the first of its five objectives. The European Council welcomed this package and, in June 2015, requested the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini to “prepare an EU global strategy on foreign and security policy” for June 2016. Lately, the EU Commission re-confirmed the central role of security in its strategy with the release of the “Energy Security Package” published on 16^th February.

Beyond the EU, the revolution in oil and gas (prompted by US shale production and deepened by an enduring price crash) has created a new and particular landscape where our Energy Union has to position itself and grow. Simultaneously, the success of Paris COP 21 has also opened a new energy era at a global level. Therefore, the “External Dimension of the Energy Union” has now become a crucial issue at the core of European policy.

The Conference

This FSR Conference on the ‘External Dimension of the Energy Union’ will investigate the current scenario, with a particular focus on the role played by gas in EU external relations.

Following the keynote address from the Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, the conference will be divided into three sessions:

1. “The Global Challenges of the Security of Gas Supply”,
2. “The Internal Market: a Hostage or Saviour of the External Energy Policy?”,
3. “The Impact of the EU’s External Energy Policy on the EU Neighbourhood”.

Among the eminent speakers contributing to this event: Dmytro Vovk (Chairman of NERC Ukraine), Andrei Kortunov (Director General of Russian International Affairs Council), Mechthild Wörsdörfer (Director of DG Energy, European Commission), Walter Boltz (Vice-Chair of ACER), Stephan Kamphues, (President of ENTSOG) and Janez Kopač (Director of the Energy Community Secretariat).

Participation in this event is by invitation only.

Download the programme