Turkey’s Position on EU Energy Policies Challenged
Turkey is asserting that it can substantiate the origin of natural gas delivered to Botas terminals, amidst rising tensions regarding compliance with EU regulations. “Bulgargaz has all the documents … of the LNG delivered to Botas terminals,” officials stated, emphasizing that “in this respect, the origin of the natural gas … can be easily proved,” reports 24brussels.
The Turkish government is maintaining a “firm and consistent stance against any attempts to use Türkiye to circumvent” EU guidelines. They further indicated that their “data regarding its imports of gas from suppliers are published on a periodic basis.” This declaration comes as Turkey navigates its complex relationship with the EU, particularly concerning energy imports.
Despite these assertions, the European Commission, along with Botaş and Greek gas importers DEPA and Metlen Group, did not respond to media inquiries regarding the situation.
Analysts warn that Turkey may lack the motivation to adhere to proposed EU energy legislation, especially given that its relations with the bloc are currently “at the lowest level” possible. Mehmet Öğütçü, CEO of the Global Resources Partnership energy consultancy and a former Turkish diplomat, noted that Brussels might need to offer “sweeteners,” such as reviving frozen discussions related to Turkey’s stalled EU membership bid, to incentivize compliance.
Turkey’s foreign ministry expressed a willingness to cooperate with the EU on energy issues, contingent on the bloc’s readiness to engage with Ankara. This cooperation could potentially involve resuming high-level energy discussions with Brussels.
However, there are concerns regarding Turkey’s good faith in compliance. According to gas market expert Săbăduș, there is a “high chance” that Ankara could manipulate customs documentation, similar to past accusations of mishandling Russian oil shipments to the EU. “What sort of jurisdiction does the EU have over Turkey?” she questioned, highlighting the significant limitations the bloc faces in verifying compliance directly with Turkish customs.
The evolving dynamics between Turkey and the EU underscore the complexities of energy dependency and geopolitical maneuvering, as both sides seek to navigate the fragile landscape of international energy policy.
