Turkey seeks to leverage growing energy clout with EU
ANKARA — Turkey has sought to use its strategic role in energy
pipeline projects to win membership in the European Union.
Officials said Ankara has asserted that Turkey's role as the gateway for
crude oil and natural gas from Central Asia to Western Europe makes it
suitable for EU membership.
Turkey stands to become the junction of at least
two such pipeline projects, Nabucco and South Stream.
"Turkey already deserves EU membership with the Nabucco
project," Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said.
In an address on Aug. 22, Yildiz warned that the EU's dependence on
foreign energy was increasing. He said this would make Turkey a key player
in energy supplies "and this should be foreseen and evaluated beforehand."