The European Union's energy problem: Unavoidable dependence

As one of the world's largest economic and trade blocs, the European Union (EU) is heavily dependent on external sources to meet its energy needs. This dependence creates economic as well as geopolitical and security-oriented vulnerabilities, especially in the context of relations with Russia. This study examines the EU's policy efforts to reduce its energy dependence, the structural and political obstacles in this process, and the effects of Russia's use of energy as a foreign policy instrument on EU strategies. The study analyzes EU-Russia energy dynamics from a multidimensional perspective in the light of the theories of dependence, interdependence and asymmetric dependence. Since the 2000s, the EU has developed strategies to increase renewable energy investments, diversify energy supply sources and increase energy efficiency. However, the divergent national interests of member states, mismatches in energy infrastructures, costly transformation of the current fossil fuel-dependent system and high investment requirements of renewable energy technologies make it difficult for these strategies to be effective in the short term. The 2006, 2009 and 2014 Ukrainian gas crises and the 2022 Ukraine War have clearly demonstrated the political and economic risks posed by the EU's dependence on Russia, forcing the EU to turn to LNG imports and alternative suppliers such as Norway, Azerbaijan and the US. However, these steps diversified the dependency by spreading it to different geographies rather than eliminating it. As a result, instead of achieving full energy independence, the EU is trying to develop a more dispersed and manageable dependency model. While the transition to renewable energy, the integration of energy infrastructure and the creation of new supply channels offer long-term solutions, these goals are difficult to achieve without political will, coordination among member states and supranational enforcement mechanisms. In this context, the thesis offers a critical framework to the literature and policymakers by arguing that the EU's energy policies should be addressed not only technically but also geopolitically, institutionally and strategically. Key Words: European Union, energy policies, energy dependence, Russia, interdependence