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Nowadays, the European natural gas production has declined having, as a consequence, increased import dependence, which is estimated to reach 85% by 2030. Therefore, the implementation of a European energy policy, towards the viability, competitiveness and security of energy supply, is more than essential. Necessary parameter for the elaboration of such a policy is the diversification of natural gas supply sources and corridors, in order to eliminate growing dependences. Moreover, the recent cases of natural gas supply interruptions to the EU, due to international geopolitical conflicts, further underline the above, indicating the necessity towards an assessment of the potential impact that a natural gas supply disruption would cause to the European natural gas security. To this end and, given the political uprising in the area of North Africa, main objective of this paper is to investigate how a natural gas supply interruption from Algeria, the EU’s third largest supplier, would affect the European natural gas security, in terms of natural gas demand satisfaction. Monte Carlo simulation was applied, producing results on the more affected countries and underlining the importance of supplies diversification, reserves and production, when applicable, towards the enhancement of natural gas security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Within the framework of achieving the European environmental targets towards climate change mitigation, as well as decreasing the fossil fuel dependence and its negative effects on global warming, renewable energy sources (RES) promotion has become a major issue of concern in most European Union (EU) countries. In the above context, most EU countries have endorsed initiatives to foster RES implementation development and inclusion in the energy mix, aiming to endeavor and further impel the benefits deriving from RES and harmonize to the EU Directive or Kyoto Protocol. Nevertheless, only few sporadic efforts have been examining countries and compare the requirements for promoting RES implementation that lack specific RES obligations or a framework set by the Kyoto Protocol or the EU Directive, and particular Balkans countries with great RES potential, such as BiH and Serbia. The main objective of this paper is to analyze the conditions and modalities for RES progress within the economic, political and institutional dimension, in these two neighboring countries located in the vicinity of EU Member States (MS), which appear to have a similar historical, political and economical background and an extensive RES potential. The analysis indicated that RES development in BiH seems to be a slow process, its institutional framework is partly established and further strengthening is required. In Serbia, the institutional framework is efficiently established, are in the process of developing new legislation to facilitate renewable energy development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The European Union (EU) is developing an increasingly close relationship with Moldova, going beyond cooperation, to gradual economic integration and a deepening of political cooperation. This fact indicates that eventually the adoption of EU legislation in the energy sector is a necessity. Therefore, the provision of a clear picture of the country’s renewable energy potential is considered essential, bearing in mind the new EU Renewable Energy Directive, which sets a mandatory target of 20% of renewable energy sources by 2020 for each member state. The aim of this paper is to discuss the perspective of renewable energy in Moldova taking into account the current energy framework and to analyze, whether it is suitable to adopt similar methodologies and policy frameworks applied in other EU countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Insights into the past Energy Research and Technology Development (ERTD) expenditures allows policy makers to better set priorities for current and future ERTD funding as well as to analyze the exact impact of ERTD investments to the development of energy technologies. However, despite numerous attempts in the past, there is currently no comprehensive, validated database that includes disaggregated data on public and private ERTD expenditures in the EU-27 for different technology groups. One of the main aims of the Scientific Reference System for New Energy Technologies and Energy End Use Efficiency (SRS NET & EEE) FP6 project is to enhance the availability, quality and completeness of data on public and private ERTD expenditures, disaggregated for energy technologies and energy end-use efficiency options in the EU-27. The aim of the paper is to outline the main data gathering procedures and results from the “SRS NET & EEE” project, as well as the related policy implication. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]