TRANS-EUROPEAN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. THE CASE OF THE NORTH-SOUTH GAS CORRIDOR

Energy security is a major element of a country’s national security system. Energy security hinges in particular on energy infrastructure, i.e. transmission, distribution, and storage facilities. There are at least two  factors that determine the importance of energy infrastructure as an element of the national security system. One refers to the need to provide regular and uninterrupted supplies of natural gas. The other largely determines the role of the country in a given region. Consequently, energy infrastructure is a sine qua non prerequisite to ensuring energy security. Given the changes on the international arena and an ever growing demand for natural gas in the member states of the Visegrad Group, there is a pressing need to further develop infrastructural links. The North-South Gas Corridor which spans Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, and Romania, is an investment project aimed at increasing energy security in the region by diversifying the sources of natural gas.  However, in view of the ever changing political situation, crucial questions need to be raised. What will be the significance of this investment for the EU and, specifically, for the countries involved in carrying it out? What are the opportunities offered when the project is completed? Will the proposed gas corridor have an effect on the geopolitical situation of Central Europe?

This article is an attempt at answering these questions. It is divided into three parts. The first part focuses on common features of the states which participate in the project. The second part analyses the progress made so far, and the third part discusses the role of the corridor for the EU and for the member states of the Visegrad Group.

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