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The EU internal market - a stake or a tool in European-Russian gas relations. The case of new member states gas policy / Agata Loskot-Strachota, Actuelles de l'ifri, juin 2011, 7 p.http://www.ifri.org/downloads/actuellesrussiangasbismjn.pdfSince 2010 we have observed a new quality in EU energy policy. It is  related to the European Commission’s more or less direct engagement in  the bilateral gas relations of a part of the new member states – Poland,  Bulgaria and Lithuania – with Russia. Although the long term outcome of  this activity of the EC is as yet unclear it seems to be important for  several reasons. Firstly it might increase the possibilities of the  enforcement of the EU’s directives liberalising the internal gas market  and specifically their implementation in individual gas agreements with  suppliers from third countries (Gazprom). The consistency and  determination of the EC in this field may be decisive for the future  direction and depth of the liberalisation of the EU gas market.  Furthermore, present developments may lead to an increase in EU and  specifically EC competence in the field of energy policy, especially its  external dimension. (Read the Full Text in the attached document). (© IFRI)