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1-6).

It is mostly likely that the concept of energy superpower does not notice the mutual dependence that exists between energy consumers and Russia. As a result of conflicts in politics and a decline in production, supply disruptions in future to Europe are expected and cannot be ruled out. Due to this, a time will come when the European Companies dealing with gas will demand the elimination of take-or-pay situations in their contracts with Russia.

This will pose a threat to the ability of Gazprom to borrow (Koszalin, pp.11-51). The attempt of Putin to use energy as a way of increasing the influence of Russia may however backfire at a later stage. This mutual dependency encouraged both parties to assure each other concerning their trust in the rest of the parties involved.

Russia has never wanted to join the European Union’s policy of Neighborhood because there was fear that its independence would be betrayed and be treated as a weaker partner by the European Union (Smith, pp.7-23).

Russia is making an effort to be an equal partner of the members of the European Union and therefore the two parties formed four common spaces for unity and cooperation in the same economic space; in common freedom space, justice and security; a co-operation space in the area of external security; and in the space of education, research as well as cultural exchange.

It is very important to note that one of the greatest and most significant issues of the common space of economics is the policy of energy. Again, Russia has in the recent past been accused for using the status of energy superpower as a tool of politics.

The decision of Russia to cut off the supplies of gas momentarily to Ukraine in the 2006 winter or during the 2008 Georgian war apparently was a demonstration of the willingness of Russia to use energy as a weapon in politics. The “smaller disputes” are quite a number; the Azerbaijan gas export in 2007 came to a stop since she had not been ready to pay the inflated gas prices by Russia.

Since 1991, there almost about 55 incidents involving energy resources of which about 55% (30 cases) had underpinnings of politics (EU-Russia Energy Dialogue, par. 1-6). From al these, the energy influence of Russia is a real menace for the members of the European Union.

Research Questions:

Questions of research are basically the tools which give direction and the purpose for the study. The study included the examination of the possibility of reducing the EU’s dependence on Russia for the supply of energy. The satisfaction of the different economies in the European Union was also another variable to be measured. The research questions which guided the study were stated as follows:

Is it possible to reduce the dependence of European Union on Russia for energy supply?

What would be the steps needed in reducing the dependence of European Union on Russia for energy supply?

Research Hypotheses:

The findings of the study in this research were anticipated to support at least one of the three hypotheses which were postulated having their basis on the questions of research. The first hypothesis targeted the possibility of reducing the dependence by EU on Russia for its energy supply.

Even though energy supply in the EU entirely de