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Abstract
The European Union has already cleared the path for the future accession of Turkey and the Western Balkan states (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia). The question is whether their mineral potential can significantly enrich Europe's supply situation, which is facing an international run on resources. Production and resource data for oil and natural gas clearly reveal that neither Turkey nor the Western Balkans have any considerable potential; their share of the EU-27 actual production is well below five per cent and they will remain net importers. Lignite is the only energy commodity with good potential.
On the metal side, the accession countries produce chromium, boron and borates far in excess of European production; bauxite has a significant share. Other ferrous and non-ferrous metals primarily meet domestic demand. As expected, Turkey's mining and smelting production capacities, and its resources, are often larger than those of the seven Western Balkan states together. Short in oil and natural gas, however, Europe's supply needs provide Turkey with a trump card: its function as a long-term energy bridge between Asian producers and European customers. This might influence Europe's enlargement decisions.