This bachelor's thesis analysis the energy relations between the European Union (EU) and Russia and researching on how energy dependence influenced the EU’s foreign policy unity and strategic autonomy. The research addresses two research questions: (1) how have EU-Russia energy relations evolved through different historical periods, and (2) how has energy interdependence affected the EU’s collective response during crises, particularly after 2014 and 2022. The primary objective was to identify the key developmental phases of the energy-political relations and assess to what extent energy dependence limited the EU’s ability to act in a unified manner in critical conditions. Methodologically, the study combines descriptive, inductive, and comparative approaches, analysis is based on official EU documents, secondary academic literature, and political statements. The theoretical framework integrates the concept of complex interdependence, which emphasizes the asymmetry in dependency relations. Empirical results confirm that infrastructure projects (e.g., Nord Stream 1 and 2), the role of Gazprom, and divergent national interests have contributed to the fragmentation of EU energy policy. While sanctions against Russia marked a significant political stance, their effectiveness was often diluted by internal compromises and exemptions. Initiatives aiming at unified energy strategy (e.g. REPowerEU) faced considerable limitations, primarily due to the entanglement of national interests, dependencies on russian energy products, and the institutional weakness of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. The concluding chapter outlines three possible future scenarios: full decoupling, redefined interdependence, and selective cooperation. In all cases, the key challenge remains the EU’s ability to develop a unified, resilient, and value-aligned approach to energy policy. The findings of this thesis are applicable to the development of joint procurement mechanisms, the assessment of supplier risks, and the reduction of bilateral dependencies.
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