Monday 29 May 2023
Home EUC Turkey is struggling about installing Israeli gas pipeline to Europe

Turkey is struggling about installing Israeli gas pipeline to Europe

After years of negotiation, an agreement has been reached on the construction of a submarine pipeline from Israel to Europe. Turkey is dissatisfied with the agreement, because the pipeline would go through Turkish territory.

Turkey has recently started drilling for gas in the Mediterranean, off the coast of Cyprus. That country claims a Turkish violation of the Cypriot economic waters, but Ankara says that it concerns waters from the so-called Turkish republic in Cyprus. In addition, Turkey says it has signed a new 'sea treaty' with Libya last month, and that the Israeli-European pipeline would be contrary to that.

This threatens to create a new international conflict over European energy supply, as in the past with the American protests against the Russian Nord Stream-2 pipeline from Russia via the Baltic Sea to Western Europe. A similar situation now threatens to arise in the Mediterranean if Turkey is to oppose new gas supplies to EU countries.

Greece, Cyprus and Israel signed an agreement last week on the 1900-kilometer gas pipeline, 1300 of which are below the Mediterranean Sea. It is intended that Israeli gas be transported via Cyprus and Crete to the Greek mainland, and ultimately also to Italy.

Billions are involved in the deal. The agreement is considered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a historic step for his country. With the pipeline, Europe becomes less dependent on Russian gas. The pipeline must be ready in five years and provide 10 percent of the gas demand in the European Union.

This is natural gas from the Israeli gas field Leviathan, which lies in the east of the Mediterranean Sea. Before construction starts, the European Commission still needs to consider competition issues.

With the pipeline the EU can become less dependent on natural gas from Russia. In particular, the Central and Eastern European member states have so far been tied to Russian gas, which runs via large pipes from Siberia to Europe. Previously, Moscow Central and Eastern European countries were troubled by gas because it had a payment conflict with neighboring Ukraine for gas supplies. Just last week, Kiev and Moscow signed new contracts for this.

Popular

EU gives Britten one more day for Brexit

The European Union gives Britain one day to come up with workable proposals for a severance arrangement. There must be ...

Italian budget still not in order according to EC

Italy's budget may conflict with the European Union's fiscal rules. The European Commission has asked the Italian minister ...

British first go to the polls in December; Brexit on the longer track

The British Government of Conservatives Prime Minister Boris Johnson is willing to meet the opposition to get support for ...

EU and MO soon for the choice: support for Tehran or Washington

Chancellor Merkel, French President Macron and British Prime Minister Johnson are urging Iran to be cautious about the conflict between ...

Merkel brings UN, Libyans, Putin, Erdogan and EU to peace talks

After discussions with Libyan General Khalifa Haftar, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that Haftar is willing ...

Just in

Twitter evades EU code of conduct; harbinger of departure ?

The social media platform Twitter, owned by American billionaire Elon Musk, is leaving the European Union's voluntary code of conduct against disinformation on…

Livestock farming also under stricter EU rules against air pollution

The European Parliament's Environment Committee has further weakened the proposal to bring many more livestock farms under stricter RIE emission standards. 

Fuss about statements by Belgian Prime Minister against nature restoration

Statements by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo have sparked controversy in the Belgian political system because the national Prime Minister...

Timmermans urges EU politicians to the agri negotiating table

EU Climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans has told Members of Parliament of the Agriculture Committee that he wants to sit down with the Netherlands to make it very clear...

Agriculture and environmental clubs want real change in Mercosur

An umbrella of dozens of European and South American agricultural clubs and environmental and development organizations urge the European Commission in a joint manifesto ...