Turkey as the key element to the EU’s southern energy corridor
Turkey as the key element to the EU’s southern energy corridor

Summary/Abstract: This article discusses the role of Turkey in the EU’s reliance on the import of foreign natural gas and oil. The author shows the importance of Turkey’s geographical placement between Middle Eastern suppliers of oil and gas and the European Union. Additionally, all export of Soviet/Russian oil from the Black Sea oil terminals to world markets goes through the Turkish straights of the Bosporus and the Dardanelles. The author demonstrates how Turkey has become a key player in energy negotiations between the EU, Russia and the Middle East, namely using the Sothern Corridor as an example. Turkey is crucial in the realization of the Southern Corridor, which could diversify sources and corridors of natural gas for Central Europe and the Slovak Republic. Turkey will surely progress in a pragmatic way and support the initiatives of the EU in the Southern Corridor, as well as use their geo-political position as leverage in EU accession talks. The author concludes by discussing Slovakia’s stance, and what it can benefit from Turkey’s role in energy transit.

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