Existing International Energy Links in Western Europe

Energy relations between the countries of Western Europe are deeply influenced by the structures and the past of these countries, which must be re-examined in their inter­national context. It thus seems necessary, before describing these relations (Section 2), to summarize the political and economic situation of these countries: this will be covered in Section 1. These considerations will explain better why and how, after so many years of independent or even opposed behaviour, a European spirit, leading to concepts that go beyond the narrow limits of these states, is developing progressively, especially in the field of energy: this aspect will be developed in Section 3.