CYIL vol. 10 (2019)

CYIL 10 ȍ2019Ȏ HYBRID THREATS TO ENERGY SECURITY: PERSPECTIVES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW and blending actions are intended to create confusion or to hide the perpetrator. 26 (Becker, p. 8) 1.3 Hybrid threats to energy security Thus, one of the essential sectors that can be targeted by the hybrid actors and can create a strong effect to the society of a particular state is the energy sector. It is indeed mentioned as one of the fields which has to be protected from hybrid threats. The variety of conceptions of energy security may be illustrated by what is considered the focus of energy security. Yergin illustrates the different concepts depending on the situation of a particular country/region: “Energy-exporting countries focus on maintaining the “security of demand” for their exports, which after all generate the overwhelming share of their government revenues. For Russia, the aim is to reassert state control over “strategic resources” and gain primacy over the main pipelines and market channels through which it ships its hydrocarbons to international markets. The concern for developing countries is how changes in energy prices affect their balance of payments. [...] In Europe, the major debate centers on how to manage dependence on imported natural gas-and in most countries.” 27 Thus depending on the subject the focus of energy security and the threats defined vary. International Energy Agency (hereinafter – IEA) is an organisation of 30 member states and 8 Association countries, which account for almost 75 percent global energy consumption and almost half energy production. It works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy, its activity is guided by four areas of focus: energy security, economic development, environmental awareness and engagement worldwide. 28 In 2004 Ministerial declaration IEA stressed that insecurity arises from a range of issues, “including geopolitical instability, natural disasters, terrorism and even poor regulatory design. Increasingly tight capacity in energy infrastructure and production facilities and diminished potential for fuel substitution demand renewed attention to existing energy security policies and procedures.” 29 Furthermore, it stressed that it is important to ensure transport of energy and build appropriate emergency stocks. Energy security is defined by IEA as “the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price.” 30 IEA underscores that long-term energy security mainly is concerned with “timely investments to supply energy in line with economic developments and environmental needs.” 31 And furthermore, short-term energy security is the ability of the energy system to react promptly to sudden changes in the supply or demand of energy 32 In the opinion of IEA, modern energy systems need to be able to withstand disruptions in energy systems, shocks from a wide range of sources. The threats to the energy systems arise from natural disasters, geopolitical conflicts, and the ongoing digitalization of energy systems. 33 26 Ibid. 27 YERGIN Daniel, Ensuring Energy Security, 85 Foreign Affairs 69 (2006), p. 71. 28 International Energy Agency. www.iea.org [accessed 31 May 2019]. 29 International Energy Agency. Communique. Meeting of the Governing Board at Ministerial Level. 28-29 April 2003. https://www.iea.org/newsroom/news/2003/april/2003-04-29--2.html [accessed 31 May 2019]. 30 International Energy Agency. Energy Security. https://www.iea.org/topics/energysecurity/ [accessed 31 May 2019]. 31 Ibid. 32 Ibid. 33 International Energy Agency. Resilience. https://www.iea.org/topics/energysecurity/resilience/ [accessed 31 May 2019].

79