EU divided on opening energy chapter with Turkey

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan uses a critical tone to urge the EU not to let political disputes block chapters in the country's accession talks. A European diplomat requesting anonymity says, 'We should do something [to solve the energy chapter] because later we will have no other chapters to open'.

Whether or not to immediately open the energy chapter in Turkey’s European Union accession negotiations as part of the common energy strategy has left the bloc divided.

“Unfortunately, some political concerns are in,” a European diplomat told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review on condition of anonymity. “Among European ambassadors, we say that we should do something because later we will have no other chapters to open.”

France has blocked five chapters in Turkey’s accession negotiations and Cyprus has blocked eight others, including the one on energy.

“The energy chapter is the one for which Turkey is the most ready if you focus on technical details rather than political disputes and prejudice,” energy expert Nejdet Pamir said.

“Regardless of the negative approach taken by some circles, Turkey will continue defending its already-gained rights and taking steps toward its EU bid,” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed Thursday at a luncheon with various European ambassadors. “Everyone should stay on track and avoid creating different arguments by remembering what promises have been made to Turkey.”

“We’ll find a way,” said Joan Clos, the ambassador of Spain, which holds the rotating EU presidency. “We hope that, working together, the Spanish Presidency will be proud to make a positive contribution to Turkey’s EU accession.”

Cyprus is blocking the energy chapter for political reasons, while France and Germany back this policy behind closed doors, according to energy expert Pamir. “Consequently, those who are more dependent on Russian gas want to see Turkey as part of the European energy strategy and create alternative sources,” he said.

“I will not deny that, sometimes, the process may be rocked either by political factors or by scenarios of difficult crisis,” Ambassador Clos said. “The road to full membership is bumpy, full of ups and downs. But whenever the negotiation hits a crisis, we have to be able to turn that crisis into an opportunity and redouble our commitment to advancing the process.”

Erdoğan stressed his expectations from Spain, saying, “We attach importance to Spain’s term presidency and expect it will open a number of chapters in order to compromise and cure the injustices of the past.”

He added, “The enlargement will not bring exhaustion, but dynamism, which will make the union stronger.”

Ambassador Clos spoke in an optimistic way about his country’s presidency. “We have in our term presidency a group of chapters, including food safety, competition, public procurement, social affairs and, hopefully, others like culture and education or energy, where together we can make significant advances,” he said.

The ambassador also quoted the words of Spanish poet Antonio Machado, “Walker, there is no road; the road is made by walking,” adding, “Let’s walk together in this profound and peaceful European encounter which is the European Union, with Turkey onboard.”

The Czech Republic had earlier expressed its eagerness to open the energy chapter during its term presidency and hosted the Southern Corridor Summit in Prague on May 8, 2009. The summit focused on Europe’s energy security, in particular managing the delicate balance between EU-wide interests in supply diversification and national interests focused on reliable bilateral relationships.

“Turkey belongs to Europe and Europe belongs to Turkey. It is not like there is one club and there is one country begging on the other side,” Czech Ambassador to Ankara Eva Filipi told the Daily News in an interview.

“Turkey is very important country with big potential,” Filipi added. “I was expecting more steps, but there are some obstacles.”

Economists from globally influential organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD, and JP Morgan assume that Turkey will grow 3.7 percent to 5.5 percent in 2010 in spite of the global economic downturn.

“Some member states, despite saying ‘yes’ in 2004 and 2005, make statements against Turkey for some reason. A promise is a promise and we should keep promises,” Filipi said, emphasizing that “it is possible to [open the] energy chapter if we convince Cyprus.”

“The EU did not have common energy policy only a few years ago. There are some [countries] really dependent on Russia and there are [some that] are not,” the Czech ambassador added. “It is partly a political game and partly a real energy game. Hopefully it will have a good result on how to diversify sources.”

/Hurriyet Daily News/