EU energy strategy focuses Russia, China

European Union efforts to secure stable oil and gas supplies must include the negotiation of an energy pact with Russia and talks with China on reining in runaway energy consumption, top EU officials said on Friday.
A report drawn up by Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the bloc’s external relations commissioner and Javier Solana, EU foreign and security policy chief, said the energy-hungry 25-nation bloc must work on an array of diplomatic fronts to meet its growing needs.
“Increasing dependence on energy imports from unstable regions and suppliers presents a serious risk,” the paper warned.
“Some major producers and consumers have been using energy as a political lever,” the paper cautioned. In addition, most countries were also unwilling to play by free-market rules, it said.

Gulf Times