Turkey is launching a diplomatic effort to restart energy negotiations with the European Union (EU), eyeing the prospect of becoming a major supplier of natural gas, after previous discussions were derailed by tensions with Cyprus, Politico reports.

In an interview with Politico, Turkey's EU ambassador, Faruk Kaymakci, said that energy cooperation would be put front and center on its agenda, as part of a planned thawing of relations that will include trade talks and political cooperation on wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

The push comes as EU member countries like Hungary and Slovakia search for alternatives to Russian gas after a transit deal that allowed them to import supplies via Ukraine came to an end at the beginning of the year.

"We have the Southern Gas Corridor," said Kaymakci. "We have 18 billion cubic meters of gas, coming mainly from Azerbaijan — and we can easily expand this, connecting it to Mediterranean gas. Our role is there, our potential is there.”

However, high-level talks over energy trade between Turkey and the EU were suspended in 2019, with the bloc's leaders saying no meetings would be held "for the time being" over a dispute between Ankara and member country Cyprus over gas drilling rights in the Mediterranean.

28.01.2025 10:37