EU-Turkey: Two Commissioners in Istanbul to discuss energy cooperation
Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle and Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger will visit Turkey on Thursday to discuss intensified EU-Turkish cooperation in the energy sector. Both Commissioners will have a joint meeting with their Turkish counterparts, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış and Energy Minister Taner Yildiz in Istanbul. Energy is a topic of key interest in the EU-Turkey relations and also a topic for the development of a positive agenda between Turkey and the EU proposed by the European Commission as complementary element to the accession negotiations with Turkey.
In the area of energy there are concrete steps that could be taken now for the mutual benefit of both sides. For example, Turkey's further development as an energy bridge and potential energy hub will benefit both Turkey and the EU, and for that infrastructure needs to be developed that interconnects European and Turkish markets. Also, Turkey and the EU have ambitious targets related to renewable energy and both can learn from each other´s experience.
Commissioners Oettinger and Füle will be in Turkey at the time when the country will be visited also by Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva who will hold talks with the Turkish Government on the country's growing importance as an international humanitarian aid donor and explore ways to intensify partnership with the EU on crisis response.