Importance of Azerbaijan snd Central Asia in EU Energy Security

Abstract

Providing the energy security of European Union has become one of the most significant issues for European politicians and academics, especially after the Ukrainian crisis with Russia. The most critical point is the fact that there is not a common policy of EU countries concerning energy security. Individual choices of member states have more influence on the energy supply. EU's failure of developing a common policy for the security of energy supply has led to disagreement about other foreign policy issues. Different reactions among EU member states about sanctions against Russia after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 has been the most recent example. Common policy of energy security is the diversification of resources and suppliers. Accordingly, with their hydrocarbon resources, Azerbaijan and Central Asian states have become alternatives for EU.