Federal Environment Minister Gabriel considers his four day visit to Turkey as success
Federal Environment Minister Gabriel considers his four day visit to Turkey as success: "Turkey's process of accession to the European Union alone will considerably improve the country's environmental situation. In addition, extensive potential in the renewable energy sector will be tapped. This offers an excellent opportunity to expand the German-Turkish cooperation in politics, trade and industry and science", Gabriel said.
In Ankara Federal Minister Gabriel and his Turkish colleague Osman Pepe signed an agreement on the implementation of joint environmental projects for climate protection in Turkey. It is now possible to support "beacon projects" which can demonstrate new technological solutions in practice, for example for improving energy efficiency or using renewable energies. The Turkish Environment Ministry announced an investment of 60 billion euro in environmental infrastructure by 2023. In light of these plans Gabriel and Pepe also decided to appoint a steering committee with the task of drawing up plans for further cooperation, for example in wastewater and waste management.
In Istanbul Minster Gabriel and Mehmet Güler, Turkish Minister of energy and natural resources, jointly announced a strategic partnership for the increased use of renewables in Turkey. In the context of support measures that have now been also adopted in Turkey and the still largely untapped potential of biomass, wind, solar and geothermal energy it is planned to initiate cooperation in politics, trade and industry and science. The two Ministers want to elaborate details in an agreement together with the relevant actors.
In Antalya Ministers Gabriel and Pepe discussed the improvement of tourism and industrial infrastructure at an event organised by the institute for applied materials flow management today. The integration of nature conservation, waste management, water management and closed cycle management into economic development offers opportunities for technology transfer in particular.
During his talks with representatives from politics, trade and industry, science and non-governmental organisations and in discussions following his speeches, Federal Environment Minister Gabriel met with great interest for political, economic and technological solutions from Germany. Topics of interest were, for example, developments in Germany which led to the increased use of renewable energies or the phase out of nuclear power.
"It is in our common interest to make much more intensive use of the traditionally positive German-Turkish relationship in politics, trade and industry and science to advance joint initiatives. We have to make a serious effort to achieve this, for example, in environmental protection and renewable energies. We have to consider Turkey's process of accession to the European Union as a special challenge and opportunity for Germany as well, in our own interest to contribute our know-how", Minister Gabriel concluded.