Brussels, 04/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - The fact that there is still no consensus at the Council for opening the energy chapter in Turkey's accession negotiations (Cyprus continues to block this dossier due to the dispute with Ankara on the exportation of gas and oil reserves in the Aegean Sea) should not stop the EU and Turkey deepening their energy cooperation in the meantime, particularly on the Nabucco gas pipeline, which Olli Rehn says the EU27 regard as “the highest priority”. Turkey is also expected to join the European Energy Community of South East Europe and continue alignment of its energy legislation on that of the EU (particularly on energy transit and liberalisation of the gas market), explained the Commissioner for enlargement during a conference on Turkey organised by the European Policy Centre (EPC) on Tuesday 4 March in Brussels. Greater energy cooperation is in the immediate interest of both parties and would also facilitate future accession negotiations on this chapter affirmed Mr Rehn, who also described Turkey as a, “key partner”.
The recent gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine clearly showed that the EU has to rapidly diversify its energy supply routes, insisted Mr Rehn. The Nabucco gas pipeline project, which will link up Caspian Sea producer countries with European markets by going through Turkey, will be a crucial alternative and whose practical application is expected to be speeded up with the active participation of Turkey, explained Mr Rehn. Turkey's energy minister, Hilmi, Güler, who also took part in the EPC conference, did not leave any doubt that the Turkish government is determined to support the project and affirmed that Turkey is a “natural energy bridge” between gas and oil reserves in the Caspian Sea and Middle East and energy consumers in European countries. He wants to see rapid progress in carrying out the Nabucco project and stated, “We do not want to waste any time because the security of the Union's energy supplies is as important to us as our own security”. This is an interesting observation because at no moment did Mr Güler link Turkish Nabucco participation to a rapid opening up in accession negotiations on the energy chapter (in January, during his visit to Brussels, the Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan was much more ambiguous and suggested that he might link the two dossiers, EUROPE 9821). Mr Güler said that Ankara had already sent its position to the Nabucco consortium and this includes the right of transit over its territory for up to 15% of the value of the transited gas. Mr Rehn appealed for diversification of EU energy supply and made a vigorous appeal in favour of nuclear energy. “I welcome Sweden's decision to use nuclear energy and I hope other countries will follow”. (H.B./trans/rh)