EU-Turkey Energy Cooperation: Challenges and Opportunities

IAI Working Papers (Istituto Affari Internazionali) 14|12, November 2014

by Sohbet Karbuz *

The aim of this paper is to analyze EU-Turkey relations from an energy perspective. Energy is of mutual strategic interest to Turkey and the EU, insofar as both face serious and multiple energy challenges. Both Turkey and the EU seek to bridge supply and demand, and to establish a more competitive, diverse, secure and sustainable energy system. Common challenges and complementary objectives offer an unparalleled opportunity for the EU and Turkey to intensify cooperation and deepen integration in this field. To that end, this paper discusses the growing relevance of energy in the EU-Turkey relationship, focusing on Turkey’s increasing importance in enhancing EU energy security. It then examines how future energy challenges could be turned into opportunities. Turkey and the EU have a lot to gain from close cooperation and deeper integration in the field of energy. However, the full potential of such cooperation and integration can best met by opening the energy chapter in Turkey’s accession negotiations.

Paper produced within the framework of the IAI-Edison project « The Changing Regional Role of Turkey and Cooperation with the EU in the Neighbourhood », October 2014.

* Sohbet Karbuz is Director of the Hydrocarbons Division at Mediterranean Observatory for Energy (OME), Paris.

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