Can South-Eastern Mediterranean Gas be a Supply for the EU?

IAI Working Papers (Istituto Affari Internazionali)14|17, November 2014, 26 p.

by Elif Burcu Günaydın *

South-Eastern Mediterranean gas fields are still under exploration and development. Meanwhile, the question of which route or routes such gas would take into the global markets remains unanswered. The various possible routes appear to be problematic either politically or financially, leaving development stifled. However, with the crisis between Russia and Ukraine deepening Europe’s interest in diversification of supplies, and with gas field owners and developers eager to monetise the resources, Eastern Mediterranean gas could become a potential source for the European Union. This paper tries to answer whether the South-Eastern Mediterranean resources can be regarded as a considerable supply for Europe and, if so, what are the alternative routes that would benefit all the parties involved.

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

* Elif Burcu Günaydin works as an energy expert in the Energy Market Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Turkey (EMRA). She was visiting researcher at the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI).

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