The securitization of energy in the light of the energy crisis: a CFSP concern?

Energy securitization

By Axèle Maillard Arricot

The EU’s Common Foreign and Security

The EU’s Common and Policy (CFSP) was established in 1993 and was established in 1993 and has since been strengthened by many treaties. has since been by many treaties. The Common Foreign and Security Policy The Common and acts as the European Union (EU)’s foreign acts as the Union policy, mainly in the areas of security and in the areas of and defence diplomacy It also participates in the defence diplomacy. It also in the EU’s external action, in the areas of trade and EU’s external in the areas of trade and commercial policy The CFSP is represented commercial policy. The CFSP is and chaired by Josep Borrell, the High and chaired Josep the Representative of the EU. As for many of the of the EU. As for many of the EU’s tools and policies, the main objective of EU’s tools and the main of the CFSP is “to preserve peace and strengthen the CFSP is “to preserve peace and international security in accordance with the international in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter” of the United Nations Charter”. The CFSP was initially created in order to The CFSP was created in order to coordinate and harmonize all of the Member States (MS)’s domestic foreign policies, and it States domestic and it now pursues and contributes to the wide array now pursues and contributes to the wide array of different foreign policy objectives of the erent of the Union.

There exists a strong nexus between the CFSP There exists a strong nexus between the CFSP and energy policy, as both the externalization and energy as both the externalization and securitization of the EU’s energy market and securitization of the EU’s energy market have enabled the development of the EU’s have enabled the of the EU’s energy security policy, which can be thought energy which can be of as a tool to ensure wider foreign policy of as a tool to ensure wider objectives.

The security of energy supplies has been a The of energy has been a major topic in debates around the globe and in debates around the and at different levels, and the development of an at erent levels, and the of an integrated EU energy policy has slowly been EU energy has been witnessed over the years Debates surrounding witnessed over the years. Debates EU energy policy have led to many claims EU energy have led to many claims regarding the ‘securitisation’ of energy the ‘securitisation’ of energy. Moreover, the Ukrainian crisis of 2014, and the Ukrainian crisis of and the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict have the Russo-Ukrainian con relaunched those very debates on European relaunched those very debates on European energy security and acted as a catalyst for more energy and acted as a for more EU energy autonomy This can be illustrated EU energy autonomy. This can be illustrated through the different sets of EU sanctions the di erent sets of EU sanctions against Russia, and the will to break the Russia, and the will to break the Union’s dependency on Russia by distancing Union’s on Russia itself and seeking new solutions. itself and seeking new solutions. However, what is energy securitization? One However, what is energy securitization? One could define it as a process within which ne it as a process within which governments or institutions shape the issue of governments or institutions the issue of energy as a threat to national or international energy as a threat to national or international interests (or state interests). It is a phenomenon interests state It is a that is located at the intersection between at different areas, such as economics, geopolitics, erent areas, such as economics, and security; which emerge from multi-level and which emerge from multi-level political structures (e.g. international and/or structures international and/or domestic) A fragmented governance and a domestic). A governance and a failure to address energy security in the past, failure to address energy in the past, on both the international and European levels, on both the international and European levels, have created a sense of emergency that ought have created a sense of emergency that to be met with the development of effective to be met with the of e trade policy instruments to enhance EU energy trade instruments to enhance EU energy security.

Image by Rochak Shuklaon Freepik

The concept of energy

The concept of energy security is a crucial aspect of any economy’s is a crucial aspect of any long-term sustainability, and it deals with and it deals with the ability of a country or economic block to the of a country or economic block to sustainably provide for its long-term energy for its energy demands. The issue of energy security is not demands. The issue of energy is not a new one, and it has been a concern of the a new one, and it has been a concern of the EU for many years, as can be illustrated by EU for many years, as can be illustrated the European Council’s ‘Energy Policy for the Council’s for Europe’ (2006) However, the development of (2006). However, the development of energy security into a CFSP concern is quite energy into a CFSP concern is recent Thus, it is safe to assume that energy recent. Thus, it is safe to assume that energy policy is a political and security concern just as is a and concern as much as it is economic. as

Energy securitization and the energy market securitization and the energy market

Nowadays, the EU is experiencing many the EU is many challenges in the light of the energy crisis. in the of the energy crisis. The import dependency is increasing and there The is and there is limited diversification, while the energy while the energy market is experiencing further integration market is further and interconnection, as well as high and and interconnection, as well as high and volatile energy prices. A variety of measures volatile energy prices. A of measures aiming to provide solutions and achieve an to solutions and achieve an integrated energy market, security of energy energy of energy supply and a sustainable energy sector are and a sustainable energy sector are at the core of the EU’s energy policy The at the core of the EU’s energy policy. The aim of the European Commission (EC) is to aim of the European Commission is to diversify supply, enhance the production of enhance the of green energy and focus mainly on gas which green energy and focus on gas which influences the electricity markets. Bilateral uences the markets. Bilateral ents are of crucial importance to the EU agreements are of crucial importance to the EU nergy transition, notably throughout this in its energy throughout this crisis. At the Member States level, it is energy crisis. At the Member States level, it is h bilateral agreements that the solidarity through bilateral agreements that the p ple of the EU has enabled different MS principle of the EU has enabled di erent to ratify agreements with each other. However, to agreements with each other. However, as proved by the infringement procedures as the introduced by the Commission in 2020, introduced the Commission in many Member States do not put the relevant many Member States do not put the relevant regulation in effect, which has led to only six in e ect, which has led to six bilateral agreements being concluded (e.g. bilateral agreements being concluded Denmark and Germany) Thus, it seems that Denmark and Germany). Thus, it seems that internal solidarity and energy trade represents internal and energy trade represents a challenge to the EU and its Member States. a to the EU and its Member States.

Synergies between the CFSP and energy between the CFSP and energy securitization

As different geopolitical events unfold, there is erent events unfold, there is a growing consensus within the EU to defend a consensus within the EU to defend its energy interests and priorities, notably its energy interests and through the use of its CFSP instruments. We the use of its CFSP instruments. We can assume that this is a direct consequence of can assume that this is a direct consequence of the fact that the EU relies heavily on external the fact that the EU relies on external sources for its energy needs. Indeed, the EU sources for its energy needs. Indeed, the EU is illustrating a complex paradox: while it is a while it consumes approximately one-fifth of the consumes oneworld’s energy supply, it is also the largest world’s energy it is also the importer of energy. This contradicting fact is of energy. This fact is accentuated by the lack of diversity within the accentuated the lack of within the EU’s primary energy suppliers, namely four EU’s energy four non-EU members: Algeria, Lybia, Norway and non-EU members: Norway and Russia. What’s more, as we have witnessed Russia. What’s more, as we have witnessed through the last security threats, the current the last the current energy supply is intrinsically linked to highly energy is intrinsically linked to politicized sources (i e Russia’s weaponisation politicized sources (i.e. Russia’s of energy). of

When analyzing the relationship between the When the between the CFSP and energy securitization, it is important CFSP and energy securitization, it is to bear in mind that the central issue to a to in that issue to a complete and efficient securitization, is the lack and e cient is the lack of coherence of the EU foreign policy Indeed, of coherence of the EU policy. and as said previously, the CFSP was initially and as said the CFSP was aimed at harmonizing the Member States’ foreign aimed at the Member States’ policies into one, at the EU level. However, the into one, at the EU level. However, the internal bureaucratic structure of the EU, coupled internal bureaucratic structure of the EU, with the Member States’ national interests makes it complicated for the EU to act coherently in it complicated for the EU to act in international relations. As an example, in light international relations. As an example, in of the current events, the EU is divided into of the current events, the EU is divided into Member States striking a bilateral deal with Member States a bilateral deal with Putin, while others point fingers and incriminate Putin, while others ngers and incriminate their neighbours for doing so (i.e. Germany and their for so Germany and the Nord Stream 2 project - lead to mistrust the Nord Stream 2 - lead to mistrust between the EU Member States) between the EU Member States).

The lack of trust between the different Member trust erent States, and which surrounds the Union as a whole, States, and which surrounds the Union as a represents a risk for full securitization of the represents a risk for full securitization of the energy matter The EU as an institution has long energy matter. The EU as an institution has considered Russia as a threat, notably because of considered Russia as a because of its approach to striking agreements, and thus it its to agreements, and thus it has always called for more cohesion, coherence has called for more cohesion, coherence and strategy. It is after Russia’s invasion of and strategy. It is after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, that the EU has somewhat successfully Ukraine, that the EU has somewhat shown its capacities, and will, to act as a single shown its and to act as a voice and managed to - partially - reach the initial voice and to - - reach the initial goal of the CFSP of the CFSP.

Different competencies and institutions overlap erent and institutions in the context of energy security While the in the context of energy security. While the EU possesses a market size that gives it great EU possesses a market size that it great leverage, and a high number of instruments at its and a number of instruments at its disposal to bear on negotiations, it should not fall to bear on it should not fall into the trap of prioritising energy as a foreign into the trap of energy as a and security policy, at the risk of missing out on and at the risk of out on the intertwinement of many different policies. the intertwinement of many di erent

An important conclusion to draw is that the An conclusion to draw is that the question of energy security as we are dealing with of energy as we are with it nowadays need not to be restrained to the area it need not to be restrained to the area of foreign and security policy, but rather it needs of and but rather it needs to be set in a broader policy context Indeed, to be set in a broader context. policies relating to economic implications, or to economic or climate change and the environment, are crucial climate and the environment, are crucial to be explored and considered in order to provide to be and considered in order to efficient policies. cient ♦