In Gazprom's Grip

It's now been more than two years since Moscow cut off gas supplies to Ukraine. Yesterday, it threatened to do so again.

Many in the European Union said back in 2006 that they had finally woken up to the risks of overdependence on a single supplier. Consequently, the EU began promoting several non-Russian gas pipeline projects to increase diversification and market competition. But in the absence of a unified EU energy security policy, Moscow has been able to play divide and rule with Europe, cementing its gas monopoly power on the Continent.

Unless the EU starts treating energy as a foreign and security policy issue, one that may even have to be dealt with at NATO level, it will continue to be outmaneuvered by countries that do view it that way. In recent weeks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has orchestrated three major energy deals that will increase Europe's already substantial dependence on Russian natural gas, which Moscow exploits for political and economic gains.

On Jan. 18, Mr. Putin secured the commitment of the Bulgarian government for the construction of the massive South Stream gas pipeline. This project would carry Russian gas through Bulgaria into Greece, Italy, Serbia and potentially Hungary and Austria. It is designed to undermine the EU-backed Nabucco pipeline, as well as the Turkey-Greece-Italy (TGI) pipeline. Both are intended to help the EU diversify its natural-gas supply by bringing gas from Azerbaijan and Central Asia to the heart of Europe.

Russia has a new weapon, energy. They know it and for years they have been developing this vision. From the reclaiming of the energy sector by the state, the more or less recruitment of numerous European politicians (Schroeder was just one and the most prominent of them)....... There is a strategic and unified goal, and the danger for Europe is that energy from the Russians is NOT delivered from free private enterprise, but a state entity which will readily wield this weapon if you do not fall in line with what they want. This is not only the case with the Ukraine, but also the Rep. of Georgia.

In a way, they somehow deserve this fate, with exception of Great Britain, Poland, and some others. As with Turkey’s EU bid, this is a path they largely chose. It’s something they wanted. The sad thing is that some, such a Poland will suffer with the rest of them that “asked for it.” The Poles years past were literally politically blocked and threatened for their opposition to the Russian plans and expansion by the Germans. What we hear today sounds a bit different than in 2002-04 when much of the dealing was done, but those like the Poles will suffer anyway thanks to their “Uebermensch” neighbors.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/poles-angry-at-pipeline-pact-476320.html

But I guarantee you one thing. The Germans with the biggest mouths who a few years ago were screaming about their new “Der Deutsche Weg” and their emancipation, today won’t remember their deal with the Turks for EU membership, or with the Russians reference pipelines and energy.

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