WANG Tiejun

(№.4,2013)

Abstract: For a long time, EU-Russia oil and gas cooperation lacks mutual trust, which affects mutual normal development seriously. In the levels of material (rationalism) and moral (sensationalism) , we discuss the EU-Russia
disbelief roots: the collapse of the Soviet Union, the rent-seeking of oil and gas producer and transit countries, the
interdependence of energy pipelines, the mutual belief affected by the lack of institutional constraint in the level of
material (rationalism), and the different ideas about sovereignty and the country founding, and the inner difference
between the new and old Europe in the level of moral (sensationalism). In the long term, the disbelief is temporary
and can be overcame by common benefit.
Keywords: EU; Russia; oil and gas cooperation; mutual trust