Abstract
The objective of this paper was to analyse the weight of natural gas in the European Union and to insist on two points: the role of long-term contracts for supply security and the impact of geopolitical considerations in the relationships with the main suppliers. Russia and Algeria. But for the European Commission, supply security should not be an obstacle to competition. The Commission is also cautious regarding the takeover risks ol'trans-Europe natural gas transmission firms. Political considerations strongly affect economic factors in international gas exchanges in Europe