ISTANBUL - "Strategic cooperation will boost supply security of both Turkey and the EU," stated the joint statement that was released after a high-level conference on "Turkey and the EU: Together for a European Energy Policy."
Taking the floor at the closing session of the conference, Volkan Bozkir, Turkey`s Permanent Representative to the EU, read out the joint statement.
According to the joint statement, supply of a sustainable, reliable and economic energy is an important matter in global level, indicating that competition increased after globalization and prices of oil and gas fluctuated.
The statement said Turkey was among the most rapidly growing energy markets in the world in the recent years with a supply rise of more than 5 percent, and noted that both Europe and Turkey needed an urgent diversification and investment to ensure energy security.
The statement said Turkey, which is near the biggest gas and oil reserves of the world in geographical sense, assumed the role of of a natural energy bridge among the EU`s important consumer markets.
The statement emphasized that strategic cooperation would boost the energy supply security of both Turkey and the EU.
It was indicated that actual and future energy projects were discussed at the conference. Turkey and the European Commission emphasized their strong will to implement the projects in question.
According to the statement, Nabucco oil pipeline would increase natural gas supply security of both parties and would enable Turkey to become the 4th main line of the EU in natural gas supply.
The statement said joint works would be carried out between the key energy producers in the region to improve energy relations.
"Both parties underscored that tanker traffic in the Turkish straits cause serious risks for human health and environment when dramatic increase in quantity of oil and oil products passing from the Turkish straits are considered. In addition to this, the parties noted that any disaster that may occur in naval shipping may interrupt regular oil flow to world market and may cause fluctuations in oil prices. The solution lies under alternative oil exports ways bypassing the straits," the statement said.
The statement said both parties underlined the need felt for clean and alternative energy resources.
According to the statement, EU reaffirmed the role assumed by Turkey and its strategic importance in ensuring energy supply security.
"Opening of negotiations in energy chapter heading would be a noteworthy advanced step. The EU has a strong interest in support of this process. Turkey`s accession to Energy Community can be achieved after resolution of all technical matters. Both Turkey and the EU share a joint intention to deepen and enlarge this cooperation in the future," the statement noted.