Rethinking the EU-Turkey Energy Cooperation

Rethinking the EU-Turkey Energy Cooperation
Author: Simone Tagliapietra
Publisher:
Total Pages: 7
Release: 2014
Genre:
ISBN:

This article, presenting a wide range of issues related to the role of Turkey in the new Mediterranean, aims to provide a comprehensive framework of understanding of the growing strategic relevance of Turkey for both the European Union and the overall Euro-Mediterranean region. In particular, the article focuses on the EU-Turkey energy relations and outlines the crucial role of natural gas in enhancing energy cooperation between the two players. In 2010 about 80% of EU gas imports derived from only three suppliers: Russian Federation, Norway and Algeria. This heavy dependence on such a few suppliers stimulated the European Commission to make the concept of diversification a cornerstone of its energy policy and to launch the concept of the Southern Gas Corridor, an initiative aimed to develop a natural gas transit corridor from Caspian and Middle Eastern gas-rich regions to Europe, in order to ease the dependency on the natural gas imported from the Russian Federation. An initiative that could shift of the "center of gravity" of the regional gas transit from the north to the south of the Black Sea, allowing Turkey to become a key transit country in the future European gas market; a pivotal element in the European gas security of supply architecture. Furthermore, the article also considers the enormous renewable energy potential of Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Countries, to which Turkey could greatly contribute in terms of technology transfer and manufacturing know-how. Turkey's involvement in the Union for the Mediterranean offers a great opportunity for energy cooperation both between the EU and Turkey and within the overall Euro-Mediterranean region. Such large-scale renewable energy projects could greatly contribute to the economic development of the overall Mediterranean region, and also to its social and political stability.

After the 2014 Ukraine Crisis

After the 2014 Ukraine Crisis
Author: Simone Tagliapietra
Publisher:
Total Pages: 12
Release: 2014
Genre:
ISBN:

Over the last two decades energy has emerged as an increasingly important component of the overall EU-Turkey relations. In particular, the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) and its flagship project, Nabucco, soon became the pivotal element of the EU-Turkey energy relations. After years of strong cooperation, the failure of Nabucco and the emergence of TANAP have ultimately outlined a divergence in the way the EU and Turkey perceive not only the SGC but also their energy relations. This divergence represents a serious risk for the strategic interests of both the EU and Turkey, and for this reason there is a need to rethink the EU-Turkey energy relations. This need is now particularly urgent, as the market and political environment on which Nabucco was conceptualized is rapidly changing, potentially opening up new opportunities of energy cooperation for the EU and Turkey. If in the aftermath of the 2014 Ukraine crisis the EU will seriously embark on a natural gas supply diversification path, the SGC could gain a new momentum, with the gas reserves of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Israel as primary target. However, after the failure of Nabucco the support of Turkey should not be taken for granted by the EU, as the country might prefer to secure its own energy supply on a bilateral basis with gas producing countries. In order to avoid the risk of a further fragmentation of the SGC, a new EU-Turkey Natural Gas Initiative - such as the one proposed in this paper - is thus urgently needed, for the benefit of both the EU and Turkey.

A New Strategy for European Union-Turkey Energy Cooperation

A New Strategy for European Union-Turkey Energy Cooperation
Author: Simone Tagliapietra
Publisher:
Total Pages: 5
Release: 2017
Genre: Energy security
ISBN:

In a period of stress in the relationship between the European Union and Turkey, co-operation over energy could be a bright spot, because of strong mutual interests. However, EU-Turkey cooperation over energy requires a rethink. Up to now, gas and electricity have represented the main components of cooperation. Though highly visible, cooperation in these fields appears to be limited in practise. By contrast, cooperation in other fields - such as renewables, energy efficiency, nucle-ar energy and emissions trading - could make a real impact on long-term energy, climate and environmental sustainability, and on overall macroeconomic and geopolitical stability. On renewables and energy efficiency, the EU could support Turkey by scaling-up the financial support it currently provides within the framework of its climate finance commit-ments. This would reinforce the case for renewables and efficiency projects in Turkey, par-ticularly as the cost of capital continues to represent a major barrier for these investments. On nuclear energy, the EU can make a sensible contribution to the establishment of a nuclear energy sector in Turkey. This can notably be accomplished by integrating Turkey into the framework of Euratom. On carbon markets, the EU can offer institutional support to Turkey, as is already being done with other countries such as China. Refocusing bilateral cooperation on renewable energy, energy efficiency, nuclear energy and carbon markets would be more effective and strategic for both the EU and Turkey. For the EU, it would provide an opportunity to put its sustainable energy leadership aspira-tions into practice, while opening up new commercial opportunities. For Turkey, it would enhance both climate and environmental performance, while reducing the energy import bill and energy dependency on Russia. This change in priorities would also be important to head off Turkey's rush into coal. Turkey currently has the third largest coal power plant development programme in the world, after India and China.

Divergent Pathways: Turkey and the European Union

Divergent Pathways: Turkey and the European Union
Author: Meltem Müftüler-Baç
Publisher: Verlag Barbara Budrich
Total Pages: 159
Release: 2016-01-18
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 3847402951

Should Turkey become a part of the European Union? This heated debate has been going on for many years now, always under the assumption that it is the membership candidate alone who needs to adjust to the EU’s influence. The book’s main argument is precisely that the Turkish accession needs to be analyzed not only by looking at the EU’s impact on Turkish transformation but also from an angle that captures the Turkish role in recasting Europe.

The Role of Turkey in the European Energy Policy. Problems and Perspectives

The Role of Turkey in the European Energy Policy. Problems and Perspectives
Author: Nargiz Haciyeva
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
Total Pages: 47
Release: 2017-01-13
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3668379696

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2016 in the subject Politics - Environmental Policy, grade: 1, Vytautas Magnus University (International Relations and Diplomacy), course: 2, language: English, abstract: Over the historical course, the EU’s growing demands for energy resources compel it to undertake significant steps regarding how to preserve energy security and procure the diversification of gas supplies from different countries for the future generation. It is an undeniable fact that the maintenance of energy security is one of the pivotal interests of Europe in the contemporary world. Currently, energy is significant to the process for both economic and social development in Europe. The diversification of energy supplies and even source countries was taken as the primary ambition by the EU. Over the historical periods, growing energy needs of the EU have put the strategic policies ahead toward other non-member states, especially resource-rich countries. In this part, Turkey and the EU relations in the energy field will be analyzed. Throughout the period, the relations between Turkey and the EU have undergone many ups and downs. Even today, the world is under the shadow of political turmoil, challenges, and crisis which have huge implications to Europe as well as other countries.

Decarbonising EU-Turkey Energy Cooperation: Challenges and Prospects

Decarbonising EU-Turkey Energy Cooperation: Challenges and Prospects
Author: Kadri Tastan
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2022
Genre:
ISBN:

Abstract: Russia's attack on Ukraine has once again highlighted Europe's heavy dependence on Russian natural gas and thus, among other things, underlined the significance of energy cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Turkey. Traditionally, Turkish-European energy relations have prioritised the diversification of energy resources in the face of Europe's dependence on Russia. The new emerging political, geopolitical, and energy context will have repercussions on Turkish-European energy relation. However, it is the ambitious process of decarbonisation of the economy and energy launched by the EU that will decisively shape the nature and future of Turkey-EU energy relations. Indeed, both European and Turkish interests related to energy security, energy affordability, and climate change mitigation require EU-Turkey cooperation in the decarbonisation process, which is expected to be very challenging. Energy transition is the key to medium- and long-term energy security for both sides