Shale gas revolution spread from USA to other continents and transforms resource geopolitics in a global scale. Exploitation of unconventional natural gas deposits began intriguing process of a global change in energy relationship. The European Union for years is searching a secure raw materials supply and opportunities to develop alternative energy sources. Shale gas may become a new resource of supply for the EU, offering an alternative way of external gas supplies in a form of LNG versus transport with land or sea pipelines. This can free up the EU from the political-raw material dependency on suppliers determined by geographical proximity. In this context, the development of shale gas technologies in Europe,would allowthe "de-politicization" of gas relationship with Russia. Europe is only at the early stage of the research and a thorough evaluation of shale gas opportunities exploration potential is premature. Among main problems limiting development of this technology in Europe there are technological, social-ecological, economic, legal and political barriers. However, the geological potential ofEurope will not be a main decisive factor in the development of shale gas technologies in the EU. It is important to build up a political willingness among countries and European corporations. This article is an attempt to analyze opportunities and barriers of shale gas development technologies in Europe and make assessment of geopolitical implications in the region, on a background of EU–Russia relationships.