30 January 2015 - Edward Lucas - Russia and Security of Gas Supply in the EU

About the Speech:

The Ukrainian conflict raised fears in Europe about the security of EU gas supplies and Russia’s use of energy for political leverage. In this speech, however, Edward Lucas argued that a mild winter and robust EU policy have blunted the edge of Vladimir Putin’s most effective foreign-policy tool: the politicised export of gas. Contrary to some expectations, gas has continued to flow to Europe, the EU has refocused on energy security and Russia has cancelled its controversial South Stream project. Edward Lucas considered the next steps for European policymakers and whether a new energy strategy can be expected from Moscow.

About the Speaker:

Edward Lucas is a renowned expert on energy security and the author of numerous books on Russia and Eastern Europe. He has more than 30 years' experience reporting on the countries of central and Eastern Europe for the Economist, the BBC and the Independent. He was formerly the Economist’s Moscow Bureau Chief and Editor of its International section. He is the author of ‘The New Cold War: Putin's Russia and the Threat to the West’, which argues that the Kremlin has used its energy wealth to strengthen at home and extend power abroad. He is a non-resident fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, DC.

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