How to reduce Europe’s energy dependence on authoritarian regimes?
Vladimir Milov
Abstract
In 2022 the EU made remarkable progress in drastically reducing its energy dependence on Russia. However, serious challenges remain. Europe still buys a significant amount of liquified natural gas (LNG) from Russia. Furthermore, most of the alternatives to Russian LNG come from authoritarian countries. The EU’s planned green energy transition is challenged by its dependence on supplies of critical raw materials from China, Russia and other autocracies. This article suggests practical ways to minimise the EU’s energy dependence on authoritarian countries. These range from boosting the production of indigenous offshore natural gas to supporting projects in democratically inclined countries outside Europe, with the aim of increasing the production of LNG and the critical minerals required for the green energy transition.