A Transatlantic Perspective on Natural Gas Security in Central and Southeastern Europe

The latest Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center issue brief, “A Transatlantic Perspective on Natural Gas Security in Central and Southeastern Europe,” by Deputy Director David Koranyi, argues that the fundamentals of the natural gas sectors of the United States and European Union (EU) are on divergent paths.

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While the US prepares for gas exports on the back of the unconventional gas revolution, Europe is facing declining indigenous production and growing dependence on imports. The Central and Southeastern Europe (CSEE) region has moved closer to integrate into the EU’s internal energy market, but it remains in a vulnerable position in the short term compared to the rest of the EU and especially the US due to the region’s historic exposure to Gazprom’s monopolistic abuse. A concerted US, EU, and regional effort is needed to implement a diversification strategy, where US liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports could make a real difference. In the medium and long run, the region can benefit from and play a crucial role in Europe’s gas supply diversification strategy and may even succeed in adapting the US unconventional experience, contributing to a healthier energy import balance on the continent.

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