Turkey seeks to leverage growing energy clout with EU
Friday, August 28, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
ANKARA Ñ 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."