IKV and DEIK Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan gave a speech on the 6 May 2015 at the opening session of the 21^st International Energy and Environment Fair and Conference (ICCI). Following his opening speech, Chairman Vardan also chaired the Special Session Periodic Assessment of Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yıldız.

Chairman Vardan emphasised the importance of energy in Turkey-EU relations and further explained in his speech that the strengthening of relations between both parties in terms of the energy sector would be beneficial for both parties. Moreover, Chairman Vardan pointed out that in the last years the geopolitical developments that have taken place in Turkey’s neighbourhood have proven its indispensable role for Europe’s energy supply security.

Chairman Vardan also added that Turkey is pursuing with determination its harmonisation with the EU acquis especially in the energy sector. Chairman Vardan also expressed his satisfaction regarding the increasing level of cooperation between Turkey and the EU in the energy sector.

Furthermore, in relation to the TANAP project Chairman Vardan explained that it is an important component of the Southern Gas Corridor as stipulated in the Energy Union document. In this respect, Chairman Vardan further explained the following: “Turkey is continuing to be an important partner of the EU in the energy sector with its secure and stable structure. Consequently, nowadays while we are acknowledging the fact that Turkey is becoming an even more effective actor in the energy sector, we are faced with an EU who does not manage to overcome political issues which in return hampers the opening of the chapter on Energy to negotiations. Chairman Vardan further voiced his criticisms towards the EU as regards to its failure to open the chapter on Energy to negotiations and also added that it is not sufficient to only confirm on the paper the importance of cooperating with Turkey as regards to the energy sector. He thus renewed his call to open without delay the chapter on Energy to negotiations.