UKRAINE’S PLACE IN THE COMMON ENERGY POLICY OF THE EU: A RECIPIENT OF PRACTICES OR AN INITIATIVE PARTNER?

Ukraine, which is fighting against the Russian invaders for its sheer existence and democratic choice, also becomes a participant in the processes of the EU energy market.

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The European Union is phasing out reliance on Russian fossil fuels. This process is already posing difficulties for the population of member countries, causing an increase in tariffs and prices for energy and other goods. It comes against the backdrop of other global challenges, such as climate change and growing political instability worldwide. However long and painful the changes may be, this is Europe’s price for protecting its freedom and security from Kremlin authoritarianism. Ukraine, which is fighting against the Russian invaders for its sheer existence and democratic choice, also becomes a participant in the processes of the EU energy market.

On the one hand, the aggressive plans of the Kremlin in general and the terror of Ukrainian citizens by Russians through the destruction of electrical facilities and energy networks make work with Western partners an actual matter of survival for Kyiv. On the other hand, Ukraine received the status of a candidate for joining the EU and in recent years has significantly integrated into the European legal field and its energy market. With the entry of Ukraine into the common European space, the EU and its member-states will receive a partner and ally with significant opportunities in the field of energy.

In this context, what exactly can Kyiv offer to Europe? What areas of energy cooperation between Ukraine and the EU are the most promising and important for the new reality? This analytical note is devoted to finding answers to those questions. It provides an overview of the conditions under which the EU and Ukraine enter into the period of energy transformation, as well as an analysis of in-depth interviews with Ukrainian and European experts regarding possible cooperation between Kyiv and Western partners in the relevant field.

 

AUTHORS: 

  • Mykhailo Drapak, Director of the European Studies Program in Foreign policy council “Ukrainian Prism”
  • Oleksandr Kraiev, Director of the North America Program in Foreign policy council “Ukrainian Prism”

 

REVIEWER

  • Volodymyr Omelchenko, Director of Energy Program in “Razumkov Centre”

 

The research is conducted in partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung , Representation in Ukraine

 

Executive summary

  • Russian energy supplies to Europe have been a major threat both to European energy resilience and political impartiality.
  • The European approach to the role of Russian gas as ”intermediate fuel” in the context of the Green Deal proved to be a strategic misstep.
  • During 2019 – 2021 Ukraine acquired capabilities to efficiently integrate into ENTSO-E and became a productive partner for the EU in electricity generation. At the same, the country had been playing a crucial role in transiting Russian gas and oil to Central Europe – this condition is currently changing. 
  • Transfer to green energy and decarbonisation of the economy is a part of acquiring energy independence from Russian fossil fuels and subsequent negative political influence both for the EU and Ukraine. 
  • Current Ukrainian energy challenges – attacks on the electricity supply network, seizing Ukrainian power plants, creating obstacles for gas transit, etc. – are directly connected to Russian aggression. They need a prompt response and can be overcome with a proactive financial and political stance on the part of the EU.
  • The further integration of Ukraine into the single energy market of the EU is the priority task of the country’s authorities for the coming years. It will create additional supply options for consumers, development and income opportunities for producers, and sources of revenues for the state. 
  • Ukraine and its EU partners need a concerted search for alternative suppliers of key traditional energy resources to meet the needs of the market before full decarbonisation.

 

Contents

INTRODUCTION

  • Executive summary

TAKE ENERGY WEAPONS FROM KREMLIN

UKRAINE’S ENERGY CHALLENGES

UKRAINE’S PLACE ON THE EU ENERGY MAP (ANALYSIS OF EXPERT INTERVIEWS)

  • Challenges for energy systems
  • Possible ways out of the current crisis
  • Energy integration with the EU
  • The EU’s reaction to Russia’s energy blackmail
  • European Green Deal and Russian aggression
  • A vision of the development of energy relations between Ukraine and the EU

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