This means ensuring there are enough gas pipelines connecting
Gas and bank security have similarities
canada goose outlet shop Europe is currently conducting two stress tests. One is on its energy suppliers, to see how badly Canada Goose Jackets they would fare if Russian gas was disrupted. The other is on euro zone banks, to ensure they are strong enough to finance economic recovery. canada goose outlet shop
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canada goose outlet online uk It is hard to know which of the two is the more important. But it canadian goose jacket is clear that an effective regime for energy security requires many of the same elements canada goose store as financial stability. canada goose outlet online uk
One is the need for credibility in the stress tests. Europe flunked its original bank assessments by canada goose coats on sale modelling scenarios that weren sufficiently stressful. The new test being conducted by the European Central Bank looks more credible.
canada goose outlet nyc The European Union is only now conducting its first gas test. Member states last month submitted their results to the European Commission, which is now reviewing them before coming up with recommendations next month. It shouldn pull its Canada Goose sale punches. canada goose outlet nyc
canada goose outlet jackets Part cheap canada goose uk of the gas test involves checking whether countries have done what they are already supposed to have done to improve security. After gas via Ukraine was disrupted in canada goose uk black friday 2009, companies were told they needed to ensure supplies in the event of a 30 day disruption. canada goose uk outlet canada goose outlet jackets
canada goose outlet But a buffer of that size is not enough. Although Ukraine has agreed a ceasefire with rebels fighting for independence, peace on the EU eastern frontier is far canada goose factory sale from guaranteed. And the EU ability to confront Vladimir Putin revanchism will be compromised so long as canada goose black friday sale it is worried about running out of gas. Policymakers jacked up capital buffers in the wake of the financial crisis; they should now increase minimum gas buffers following the Ukrainian crisis. canada goose outlet
canada goose outlet canada Banks don just undergo stress tests. They also have to produce plans to make sure they can continue operating if they suffer canada goose outlet a shock. Similarly, the gas buy canada goose jacket tests are supposed to be accompanied by contingency plans. Bank recovery plans involve things like raising more capital, disposing business and shrinking balance sheets. Gas contingency plans need to include boosting storage facilities, switching canada goose coats to alternative fuels and rationing supplies. They need to be robust. canada goose outlet canada
canada goose outlet in usa One way of Canada Goose Parka trying to stop banks getting into trouble is to forbid them from putting all their eggs in one basket. There are exposure limits, which prevent them lending more than a quarter of their capital to a single counterparty. canada goose outlet in usa
canada goose outlet online What makes the EU vulnerable in the gas arena is that 27 percent of its consumption comes from Russia. Six member states get all their gas imports from Russia. It will take time to diversify supply to other fuels (such as nuclear energy and renewables) or other sources of gas (such as shale and liquefied natural gas). But, eventually, there should be an equivalent of exposure limits to ensure energy security. canada goose outlet online
canada goose outlet new york city Another way of preventing a financial crisis is to engage in policy. The basic idea is that canada goose clearance it is not enough to look at individual banks, because of the cat cradle of linkages between lenders. Regulators need to examine the system as a whole. canada goose outlet new york city
canada goose outlet store uk There is the same imperative in the gas world. The EU already has a body called the Gas Coordination Group, which exchanges information and coordinates action. Meanwhile, member states are required to inform the Commission before signing any intergovernmental agreements in the energy field so it can check that what may be a good deal for one country doesn undermine another security. canada goose outlet store uk
canada goose outlet sale Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister who has just been chosen buy canada goose jacket cheap as next president of the European Council, has advocated going one step further: Canada Goose Coats On Sale involving the Commission http://www.mycanadagoosejacket.org in all EU energy negotiations. While this would clearly increase its bargaining power vis vis Russia, it would also contravene trade and antitrust policy. canada goose outlet sale
canada goose black friday sale A more modest idea, though, is worth considering: get the Commission to co sign all gas deals but give it the power to object only if it believes energy security is being compromised. The Euratom Supply Agency Canada Goose online already does this with uranium supplies. canada goose black friday sale
canada goose outlet store There is, though, one big difference between gas and banking. You can print gas in the same way that uk canada goose outlet you can print money, so there can be a lender of last resort in quite the same way. But two things can be done that would have a somewhat similar effect. canada goose outlet store
canada goose outlet black friday The most important is to complete the single market in gas. This means ensuring there are enough gas pipelines connecting different national markets. If one country lost access to gas, it could then import it from another. Although the EU as a whole might still face a shortage, the hit would be shared around all 28 countries rather than absorbed by a small number of vulnerable states. canada goose outlet black friday
In the past few years, a lot of interconnectors have been built. But the Commission estimates that 17 billion euros still needs to be spent. This is a top priority for the next few years.
canada goose outlet reviews Another way of protecting vulnerable countries would be for the EU to set up a fund to help them pay for LNG in the event that Russian gas was cut off, as suggested by Mathew canada goose Bryza, director of the Estonian based International Centre for Defence Studies. Given that LNG is more expensive than piped gas, the fund could finance the extra cost. canada goose outlet reviews
canada goose outlet toronto factory The analogy between gas and finance is not exact. But, as Europe takes action to improve its energy security, it can learn the lessons from banking: from its failures as well as its successes canada goose outlet toronto factory.