This thesis analyzes the Visegrad Group&rsquo / s stance toward the Russian-German Nord Stream and Russian-Italian South Stream gas pipeline projects, which aimed to circumvent the traditional energy routes situated in Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The level of the Visegrad Group&rsquo / s dependency on inherited Soviet gas pipeline routes is examined alongside the Visegrad Group&rsquo / s policy setting ability within the group itself and in the European Union. The thesis also traces the evolution of energy relations between Europe and Russia and Visegrad Group&rsquo / s adaptation to the new state of affairs after the collapse of the Soviet Union, particularly with respect to energy issues. It is argued that despite all differences, Visegrad Group members are able to set a cooperation platform at times of crisis and develop common energy strategies. However, the thesis shows that the Visegrad Group&rsquo / s endeavor has encountered some setbacks at the national level and serious challenges at the European level, largely owing to the lack of a common European energy policy. The thesis concludes that the Visegrad Group&rsquo / s energy policy is both dependent on the stances of Russia and larger EU actors.

This paper focuses on Turkey’s foreign energy policy with a special focus on cases ofNabucco and South Stream Gas Pipeline Projects and examines the issue from the perspectiveof “realist theory”.The research question aims to discover the realist tendency in Turkishforeign energy policy and to find out which gas pipeline project is more beneficial in terms ofnational interest for Turkey and also relevant for meeting the goals of Turkish Foreign EnergyPolicy.Energy is the key concept of the discussions about future of our world and sustainabledevelopment. If energy functions as a subject that increases the tensions between countriesthis means a threat to sustainable development since it becomes a factor jeopardizing peaceand makes cooperation between states imporssible. Also; energy constitutes a fundamentalplace national strategies of states along with sustainable development.In order to make the theory operational, three main dimensions, being security, economicsand strategic are used as tools or in other words as filters to look through, in the analysis offoreign and energy policy, as well as cases of Nabucco and South Stream Gas Pipeline Projects.

This thesis examines the bilateral relations of European Union and Russia in terms of energy trade. The main question of this thesis is whether European Union could realize its energy strategies of supply security and supply diversification in its natural gas trade with Russia. The main argument of this thesis is / Russia has been undermining the EU&rsquo / s energy strategy, by using the contradictions between the EU&rsquo / s energy strategy priorities of supply security and supply diversification. Emphasizing the significance of supply security for the European Union, Russia undermines the EU-sponsored projects of supply diversification. The fact that, Russia will be the principal supplier of natural gas to Europe, is likely remain as the key actor in energy market of EU. However, Russia is also dependent on EU for its hydrocarbon exports. Consequently Russia&rsquo / s role as EU&rsquo / s primary supplier in natural gas , and EU&rsquo / s role as Russia&rsquo / s main hydrocarbon importer, are likely to be the main factor that will continue to shape the thereon energy security in the foreseeable future.

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The master thesis analyzes the natural gas policy of Hungary in light of the duality in its international context. Hungarian decisions regarding energy policy are directly influenced by the EU through the country's membership and subscription to the Union's multilateral framework, but are simultaneously affected by the bilateral relationship with the key supplier of natural gas, Russia. This duality is analyzed as embodied in two natural gas pipelines projects, Nabucco and South Steam, both including Hungary as a transit country, but serving different interests. The study finds that the multilaterally defined community interests - although of increasing importance - do not prevail over bilaterally articulated interests with Russia in the field of energy.

This thesis deals with the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2009 in terms of energy and energy security. In the introductory theoretical part the notion of "energy security" is defined and the chapter analyzes energy in the EU primary law too, including jurisdiction of the issue to a particular Union's institutions. In the practical part of the thesis the priorities of the EU in energy and energy security are described and steps that CZ PRES made to increase EU energy security are analyzed. Particular emphasis is placed on the gas crisis and the general supply of gas, which played during the Czech Presidency a significant role. Final chapters focus on the shift in the EU's energy security during the forthcoming Swedish and the Spanish Presidency.

Die Dissertation besteht aus drei unabhängigen Essays zur Anwendung der kooperativen Spieltheorie auf den internationalen Erdgashandel. Das internationale Erdgasnetz wird von einem stilisierten quantitativen Modell dargestellt, welches aus den wichtigsten Produzenten, Verbrauchern, Pipelines und LNG-Terminals besteht. Die Koalitionsfunktion berücksichtigt wesentliche Merkmale des internationalen Gashandels und schildert die Abhängigkeiten zwischen den Akteuren. Das Spiel wird mit dem Shapley-Wert und dem Nukleolus gelöst, welche alternative Indizes für die Darstellung der Machtstruktur sind. Kapitel 1 versucht die Interessen der Spieler in drei Pipeline-Projekte, d.h. Nord Stream, South Stream und Nabucco, zu rationalisieren. Das Kapitel ordnet die Investitionen in die neuen Pipelines ihren Auswirkungen auf die Verhandlungsmacht der Akteure zu und zieht dabei Rückschlüsse auf die Aussagekraft der Lösungskonzepte. Der Shapley-Wert rechtfertigt die jüngsten Investitionen in die Pipelines als rationale Versuche, die Machtstruktur zu verändern. Im Gegensatz zum Shapley-Wert kann der Nukleolus die empirischen Beobachtungen nicht nachbilden. Kapitel 2 studiert Pipeline-Projekte im zentralasiatischen Raum. Die Ergebnisse erklären die Unterstützung der zentralasiatischen Länder für eine nach China verlaufende Pipeline statt einem nach Europa führenden Projekt, und zeigen, dass die Konkurrenz zwischen China und Europa für das zentralasiatische Erdgas vernachlässigbar ist. Kapitel 3 untersucht die bedeutendsten Entwicklungen in Angebot und Nachfrage im globalen LNG-Markt sowie deren Einfluss auf die Machtstruktur im eurasischen Erdgashandel. Die Entwicklungen kommen den europäischen Verbrauchern deutlich zugute, aber scheitern dabei, die Macht der etablierten Anbieter um Europa, beispielsweise Russlands, einzudämmen. / The dissertation contains three independent essays on the application of cooperative game theory on the international natural gas trade. The international natural gas network is represented by a stylized disaggregated quantitative model consisting of its major producers, customers, trunk-pipelines and LNG terminals. The value function considers essential characteristics of the international gas trade and characterizes the interdependencies between the major actors. The game is solved with the Shapley value and the nucleolus as alternative indexes for capturing the power of different players. Chapter 1 aims to rationalize players'' interest in the three pipeline projects, i.e., Nord Stream, South Stream, and Nabucco. The chapter relates the investments into the new pipelines to their impact on the power structure and thereby makes conclusions about the explanatory power of the solution concepts. While the Shapley value can explain the recent investments in the new pipelines as a rational attempt to alter the power structure in the network, the nucleolus, in contrast, fails to replicate the empirical evidence. Chapter 2 studies pipeline options of the Central Asian countries aimed at diversifying their transit routes and export markets. The results explain the Central Asian countries'' endorsement for an eastbound pipeline to China rather than a Europe-bound option, and show negligible demand competition between China and Europe for Central Asian supplies. Chapter 3 investigates major supply and demand developments in the global LNG market as well as their impact on the power structure in the Eurasian natural gas trade. The developments benefit European consumers significantly, but barely curtail the power of the established suppliers in close proximity to Europe, such as Russia.

Master thesis "Czech Republic and its connection to new LNG terminals - strengthening of the gas security" examines the level of gas security in the Czech Republic. Dependency of the Czech Republic on gas supplies from foreign countries is almost 100 %. Russian federation is dominant supplier with roughly 75 % of the supplies. High dependency on one exporter is considered hazardous from energy security perspective. The Czech government should strive to change and improve this situation. The diversification is considered as a useful tool to improve the gas security. Currently there are new gas projects built in neighboring countries, which may influence energy security of the Czech Republic. The study researches the impact of these new projects on the Czech Republic. Namely we focused on gas pipeline Nord Stream and its Czech connection Gazelle, which will connect North Germany and Bavaria through the Czech Republic. Second project is gas network called "the North - South Corridor" connecting Baltic and Adriatic Sea. The North - South corridor may be potentially linked up to the new LNG terminals Świnoujście in Poland or Adria in Croatia. Furthermore, there are long-lasting plans to open new "South" gas route from Caspian region to Europe. The main goal of this thesis is to explore real...

This work will try to analyse, if a project of Nort-South gas corridor is a really effective solution for EU and if this project really supports an effort to achieve a common energy security of EU. Work is based on hypothesis that natural gas and significant difference between member states of EU in dependence on Russian gas are the main problems which complicate efforts to achieve a common energy security of EU. Project, which could support efforts to achieve a common energy security of EU must be a project which could assure a diversification of gas routes and diversification of gas sources without weakening of energy security of any of EU member states. This work will try to analyse if existing gas projects (North Stream, South Stream, Nabucco and North- South gas corridor are really realistic projects which meet energy needs of member states of EU and long-term policy of EU. This work will try to prove, that North- South gas corridor is f the project, which really brings diversification of gas sources and gas routes and existence of this project will have also positive influence on efforts to achieve a common energy security of EU.

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