European Energy Security: The new role of the Atlantic and the Portuguese Speaking Countries of the Region

Policy Center for the New South, Rabat.

Policy Center for the New South will be hosting the presentation of the research paper “European Energy Security: The new role of the Atlantic and the Portuguese Speaking Countries of the Region”, by its authors Ms. Catarina Mendes Leal and Mr. José Félix Ribeiro.

The European Union (EU), namely after its expansion in the East, is proportionally much more dependent on Russia and Eurasia than the Middle East/Persian Gulf region, counting on an energy province within it, although facing a decline in production – the North Sea, and with two regions of proximity: the North of Africa and West Africa. Security of an energy supply encompasses all Member States, even if some regions are more vulnerable than others; in particularly the less integrated and connected regions, such as the Baltic region and Eastern Europe.

Simultaneously, the Atlantic region is becoming the scene of important transformations, such as those arising from the discovery of new energy resources and technological advances that will impact the future.

To this effect, the present work focuses its attention on the Atlantic, proposing to observe, analyze, and attempt to comprehend, as much as possible, the future of its influence in geopolitical and geo-economics terms, highlighting the role of Portugal and the Lusophone countries of the Atlantic could potentially take regarding energy as an alternative route to the Russian supply for the EU, allowing for a more energy secure Europe.

This research paper was awarded the Jacques Delors Prize in 2016 and is available for download.