Turkey links gas pipeline to EU talks

Report of a visit by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Brussels to speak with high-level European Commission officials, and to speak at a European Policy Centre seminar, 19 January 2009.

Mr Erdogan hinted Turkey might withhold support from the Nabucco gas pipeline, a project viewed as central to Europe's drive for energy security, unless the European Union unblocked the energy section of Turkey's EU membership talks.

Deutsche Welle, 20.1.09: Turkey's PM Presses for EU Membership, Pipeline Alternative http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,3960260,00.html

BBC News, 19.1.09: Turkey tries to revive EU drive http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7837145.stm

EurActiv, 20.1.09: Turkey plays energy card in stalled EU accession talks http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/turkey-plays-energy-card-stalled-news-221113

Website: European Policy Centre http://www.epc.eu/

ESO: Background information: Czechs to push for Nabucco gas pipeline at EU helm http://www.europeansources.info/record/czechs-to-push-for-nabucco-gas-pipeline-at-eu-helm/

Deutsche Welle, 20.1.09: Turkey Blackmailing EU Over Gas Pipeline, German Minister Says http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,3962409,00.html

EurActiv, 20.1.09: Gas crisis casts fresh doubt on EU’s Nabucco pipeline http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/gas-crisis-casts-fresh-doubt-eu-nabucco-pipeline/article-178640

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