The Competition Of The Eu's Energy Markets In The Middle East The Potential And Strategy Evaluation

Energy resources from the Middle East are extremely important to each consumer country, nomatter what is its market share in the Middle East energy market. As the world’s largest economy andone of the most important energy consumers, every action of European Union (EU) has a far-reachingimpact on the world energy market. A thorough and comprehensive energy strategy has enabled EU tohandle skillfully the fierce competition in the international energy market. At the same time it is alsothe top priority of China to search for a forward-looking energy strategy with its rapid economicdevelopment and soaring demand for energy.With economic management strategy research methods, this thesis analyzes the political andeconomic factors of EU’s competitive circumstance in the Middle East energy markets, and assessesEU’s Middle East energy strategy selection. In the competition of Middle East energy market, EU’sopportunities lie in the market trend of the energy consumption and rapid development of new energytechnologies. On the other hand, the threat is the market-leading forces of energy-producing countriesand the rapid development of emerging energy-consuming economies. The internal environmentalanalysis shows that leadership in new energy technologies, the tremendous role EU played in globalclimate change policy, and EU’s home position in the international financial system has built upEU’s strengths in the Middle East energy market. But the apparent weakness of EU is lack ofconsistency of energy diplomacy in the market. By analyzing of EU’s internal and externalenvironment in the Middle East energy markets, we can conclude that in the Middle East energymarket, EU adopts primarily a defensive strategy to strengthen the cooperation with the Middle Eastenergy-producing countries.The analysis of EU’s competitive environment in the Middle East energy markets and its energystrategy selection shows that EU mainly apply the defensive strategy assisted with a growth strategy inthe Middle East energy market trying to protect the its dominant position in the energy market. Suchenergy strategy in the Middle East has set a good example for China. Similarly, China shall thoroughlyperceive its internal and external environment to establish a practical energy strategy to address thechallenges and competition in the international energy market.