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Energy projects as Ankara's leverage on EU

Business Materials 30 January 2015 22:00 (UTC +04:00)
Following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement that Ankara is not interested in joining the EU, it seems that Turkey will finally freeze the relations with the union.
Energy projects as Ankara's leverage on EU

Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 30

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement that Ankara is not interested in joining the EU, it seems that Turkey will finally freeze the relations with the union.

Some Turkish and foreign media reported that the relations with the EU lost their attractiveness for Ankara and it is in search of an alternative. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) can be such an alternative.

If we consider the Ankara-EU relations, we can see that Turkey's EU membership is necessary for the country's democratization.

Despite Turkey is establishing the relations with the EU on the principles of democracy and human rights, the EU has not yet determined the principles of its relations with the country. This is one of the main problems between the sides.

But this does not mean that Turkey has no leverage over the EU.

If we examine all statements of Ankara's officials, we can notice an "option for retreat". For example, we can emphasize Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's statement that regardless of EU's desire, Turkey is part of Europe and the EU will not be a strong structure without Turkey.

One must think over Minister for EU Affairs Volkan Bozkır's last statement that Turkey will be finally ready for becoming an EU full member in the next 2-3 years. Bozkır also urged the EU to start a new economic phase of negotiations. The union has not yet reacted to it.

What will change in 2-3 years? Ankara today by all means tries to develop its economy, foreign investors are attracted to the country. Moreover, Turkey also develops its defense industry which shows the country's serious ambitions. Turkey succeeded to reach 54-percent self-sufficiency in defense industry sphere.

Additionally, Turkish authorities do not hold back their intention to turn the country into the energy hub. Selling of oil from the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq to Turkey, the work on the construction of a new oil pipeline from Iraq to Turkey, as well as other energy projects suggest that Ankara seriously intends to work on the project for turning the country into an energy hub.

Furthermore, the implementation of the TANAP project jointly with Azerbaijan will increase the significance of Ankara and Baku for the energy-dependent Europe even more.

The gas will go to Turkey in 2018, and after the construction of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) the gas will reach Europe around in early 2020.

Alongside with the TANAP and TAP projects, which will allow to ensure Europe's energy security, Ankara also studies the issue of implementation of the Turkish Stream project. The implementation of the Turkish Stream will by no means affect these two main projects.

There is no doubt that with the implementation of the TANAP project initiated by Azerbaijan, Ankara will receive a trump card in its relations with the EU.

Edited by SI

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Rufiz Hafizoglu is the head of Trend Agency's Arabic news service, follow him on Twitter: @rhafizoglu

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