GEOPOLITICS OF ENERGY AND ENERGY COLABORATION IN THE SOUTH-EAST OF EUROPE

The paper analyzes geopolitical circumstances on the global oil market towards the beginning of the 21(st) century. After the oil price leap, the global oil market has entered the phase of possible energy-related crises, political instability and major disturbances. Such a condition makes the energy-related situation of energy importers rather difficult, especially when it comes to relatively small countries outside of geopolitical integrations, but also makes the need for energy savings topical once again, along with advancing energy efficiency and a more intense use of renewable energy sources. Geopolitical development resulted from an uneven global oil production and consumption distribution, as well as the impact of these global events on energy supply and circumstances in the oil-gas sector of a rather small Country like Croatia. Countries in the south-cast of Europe needs more imported energy, particularly oil and gas and international collaboration in order to realise some new joint energy projects.