Is the EU a great power? The case of natural gas

Abstract

This chapter examines potentials and limitations of the EU’s internal and external integration in the sphere of natural gas. Drawing upon the English School (ES) theory and particularly Barry Buzan’s approach on international society, the chapter uses the ES concept of primary institutions and Buzan’s criteria to be a “great power”. It aims to understand the extent of which the EU acts as a great power in the field of natural gas. Accordingly, the first section examines material capabilities which consist of natural gas reserves, natural gas infrastructure and technologies. The second section questions the extent of which the Energy Union can be considered a self-declared status and analyses acceptance of this status by others The third section examines the extent of which the EU’s internal market rules are calculated by others while concluding section sets out the EU’s limitations and potentials based on the analysis and discusses the implications of the findings.