Energy diplomacy: EU and Turkey to intensify energy relations at High-Level Energy Dialogue in Istanbul

EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete will travel to Istanbul on 28-29 January to enhance the EU’s strategic energy partnership with Turkey. The Commissioner will participate in the first EU-Turkey High-Level Energy Dialogue with the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Mr. Berat Albayrak and senior officials from both sides. The discussions will focus on the integration of the Turkish energy market with the EU, energy efficiency and renewables, climate change and follow-up on COP 21, gas markets and interconnections, including the development of the Southern Gas Corridor and the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP), electricity markets and interconnections, nuclear safety, developments in accession negotiations and the opening of Energy Chapter, and regional cooperation and integration in the Energy Community and the Mediterranean. On 29 January, Commissioner Arias Cañete and Minister Albayrak will participate in a roundtable with the representatives of the Turkish private energy sector. Ahead of the visit, Commissioner Arias Cañete said: “Given its strategic location as transit country in the region, Turkey is a key partner for Europe’s energy security and diversification. With the launch of the High-Level Energy Dialogue, Turkey and the EU are injecting renewed political momentum to our energy cooperation. This will lead to concrete actions and projects to our mutual benefit”. A joint press statement will be published after the High-Level Dialogue on 28 January. For more information see also Joint Statement following the High-Level Political Dialogue between the EU and Turkey from 25 January 2016.