The Balkans’ Role in the 'Cool War': The Ukrainian Crisis and a New Energy Plan to Spur EU Integration

Abstract

The European Union (EU) is struggling to develop a coherent and strategically independent energy policy, the likes of which could spur EU integration and expand its reach to the southeast. The enactment of such a policy would conform with the original objectives of the European Union: to strengthen energy relations, avert war, restore peace, and foster regional cooperation. However, such precepts have recently been challenged by the prevailing risk of instability in eastern Ukraine. In this piece, we will provide the larger context for a “Cool War” between Russia and the West and the energy plan that could better integrate the Balkan states into the EU.

Keywords: Balkan states, Balkans, Cool war, energy, energy independence, energy policy, EU, EU factor, Russia, EU - Russia relations