European Union is more and more dependant of the outside world for its energy supplies, because of the decrease of its own reserves. Its level of dependency has jumped up from 44 % to 56 % between 1995 and 2005. Such a dependency towards certain big suppliers is a risk factor for European Union because they are not all reliable partners. The example of gas is particularly significant.

 

• Natural gas supplies of the EU come from various EU Members and, more and more, from neighbour countries. Russia is the most important one. Nevertheless, its importance should not be over estimated for several reasons. The European Union imports gas from other countries (Norway, Algeria, and Nigeria). Russia is the first supplier for only half of the Member States (Central Europe, Germany, Greece, Finland, etc.) which are often small or medium countries on the demographic and economic point of view. The other Members States can rely on their own reserves (Denmark, Netherlands) or on other suppliers such as Algeria and Norway (Spain, France, Belgium).
• Member States could import natural gas from other countries provided that EU is able to open new import continental corridors (from Central Asia and Persian Gulf including Iran) or to develop the transport of liquid gas by ship.