Implications of LNG import on the European Union’s energy security

Due to insufficient level of domestic natural gas production, the European Union countries are forced to import this key energy resource from the third countries. This involves political and economic as well as physical risks. In order to ensure energy security, it is necessary to mitigate the threats that in the case of natural gas supplies are primarily related to various types of dependencies. The dependency grows in the situation of low diversification of energy sources and resources suppliers. The aim of this paper is to analyze the impact of LNG imports on the European Union’s energy security, which would not be possible without showing the structure of the regionalnatural gas market. Implications of LNG trade will be shown in comparison with pipeline gas supplies, which are dominant on this market.