The energy policy of the European Union and its implications for Turkey

Abstract

Energy has played a significant role in unifying the European nations and being an apparatus for peace building in Europe since the Second World War. In the postwar period the European Coal and Steel Community brought rival countries together as allies with regard to energy resources. Today, the energy issue remains a priority within the European institutional framework. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, more ex-Soviet East European countries have become members of the European Union (EU). This wider and deeper integration has led the EU to adopt comprehensive energy policies, so it is essential to examine the facets of the EU energy policy. Moreover, because of its strategic location, Turkey has become an active player in the energy trade between the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Europe. The number of pipelines that pass across Turkey has increased since the start of the 2000s. Turkey has become a candidate for membership of the EU and has had to comply with EU rules and norms, as well as internalizing the EU’s Acquis Communautaire. In this chapter, the evolution of the EU energy policy and Turkey’s integration into it are analyzed. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.