Energy Security, Democracy and Development

In its 2006 Green Paper, the European Commission noticed that an increased linkage between energy policy and development policy is necessary: "Europe has entered into a new energy era!" and the "increasing dependence on imports from unstable regions and suppliers presents a serious risk... [with] some major producers and consumers... using energy policy as a political lever." However, so far energy security remains a subject studied by energy (political) economists and is not integrated into the normal purview of work on foreign, security and development policies. EDC2020 therefore addresses this issue and aims at correcting these shortcomings and creating scenarios to the questions:

  • What are possible combinations of energy, development and Common Foreign Security Policy (CFSP)?
  • What is the relationship between Member States' and EU interests regarding energy policy?
  • How can a practical balance between the 'access to energy' of poor communities and the EU's own supply concerns be achieved?
  • Is the EU striking the right balance between free market and geopolitical approaches?

Richard Youngs (FRIDE), project associate working on energy security said:

“European Union policy commitments formally state that the EU’s approach to energy security will increasingly be based on efforts to improve governance standards in producer states and on the recognition that security requires more effective development co-operation...Is the EU striking the right balance between the ‘access to energy’ of poor communities, on the one hand, and its own supply concerns, on the other hand?”

Involved consortium partners

Project partner co-ordinating this research area: Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior (FRIDE), Richard Youngs
Project partners involved in this research area: FRIDE, IDS

Richard Youngs, Senior Researcher at the Democratisation Programme at FRIDE
Edward Burke, Researcher at the Democratisation Programme of FRIDE
Kimana Zulueta-Fülscher, Researcher at the Democratisation Programme of FRIDE (until 12/2008)
Mick Moore, Research Fellow at the Governance Team of IDS

Seminar on Energy, Democracy and Development - the African region

On 12 March 2009, FRIDE hosts the second international seminar on the links between European polices on development co-operation, energy security and the promotion of good governance. The seminar which takes place in Madrid / Spain has a special focus on the African region.

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Seminar on Energy, Democracy and Development - the MENA region

On 3 October 2008, FRIDE hosts an international seminar in Madrid / Spain. This seminar aims to examine the links between European polices on development co-operation, energy security and the promotion of good governance with a special focus on the MENA region.

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Related work at the consortium partners' institutes and other EADI members

Democratization, Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior (FRIDE)

Politics and Power / Security and Conflict, Institute of Development Studies (IDS)

Environmental Policy and Management of Natural Resources, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut fuer Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

Governance, Overseas Development Institute (ODI)

European Programme, Society for International Development (SID)

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EDC 2020 publications on energy