After the signing ceremony of a Nabucco intergovernmental agreement in Ankara on Monday, experts in the energy policy field, speaking to Today's Zaman, analyzed the project's potential contribution to the relations between Turkey and the European Union.
Professor Hasan Selim Özertem, a researcher from the Ankara-based International Strategic Research Organization (ISRO/USAK), said the project would bring Turkey new opportunities and would improve its status as a bridge between the East and West. “The Nabucco deal will contribute to Turkey's influence over the links between the Middle East and Europe. It will in fact provide benefits for Turkey in three different dimensions. First, Turkey's accession to the EU will be accelerated and the interdependence between the EU and Turkey will be deepened. Second, Turkey's ties with the Turkic republics will be strengthened. And third, Nabucco will create employment opportunities in the country and help further develop its economy,” he said.
The 3,300-kilometer-long pipeline will carry 31 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Central Asia, the Caspian region and the Middle East to Europe. It is expected to be finished in 2015 and cost about $11 billion.
Hüseyin Bağcı, professor of international relations at Middle East Technical University (METU), described the project as positive, as well. He said the initiative would certainly be effective both regionally and globally. “The Nabucco pipeline project is a real expander for cooperation between Asia and Europe. It is a productive project for all stakeholders, Turkey, the EU and the supplier countries,” he added. Bağcı also said Nabucco would make Turkey's hand more powerful in its negotiations with the EU for membership. “As Europe's need for natural gas increases, the pipeline will play a greater role for the Europeans, for it will be the biggest alternative to the continent's other energy routes. This means an increasing dependence on Turkey on the part of the EU. This will be helpful for Turkey in taking steps into the bloc,” he suggested.
Although most analysts have made positive remarks about the project, there are still a few who are more critical with regard to its significance. Professor Özcan Ültanır from Ankara University said progress has been exaggerated. “All the statements coming from the government and coverage in the media are just political outbursts to attract people's attention. This is just a blown-up balloon. The gas that will be carried in the pipeline is insufficient for the countries. The total gas will meet just 5 percent of Europe's demands. The suppliers have not even declared a definite announcement about their participation in the project.
On the other hand, in his previous declarations, Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan told the public that they would not sign any agreement before EU negotiations start on the energy chapter. This will be a concession made by Turkey in the process of joining the EU. Instead of Europe's concerns, Turkey's needs must first be given a thought,” Ültanır said.
