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reThe EU is threatening Turkey with new sanctions in the event of another confrontation in the dispute over natural gas drilling in the eastern Mediterranean. Ankara must end “provocations and pressure” against Cyprus, said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the EU summit on Friday night. “In the case of renewed action by Ankara, the EU will use all its available tools and options,” she warned.
Since the discovery of rich gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean, there has been a heated dispute over their exploitation. Both Greece and Cyprus and Turkey claim the affected maritime areas.
Von der Leyen welcomed the fact that Turkey has entered into a dialogue with Greece on the issue. “We regret that Ankara has not made a similar constructive gesture towards Cyprus,” he said. The differences would have to be resolved through a “peaceful dialogue in accordance with international law”.
Last year, the EU cut funding for Turkey in the gas conflict, suspended high-level contacts and suspended negotiations on an aviation deal. This was later followed by sanctions against two parties involved in the controversial drilling, against which entry bans and account freezes were imposed.
Also sanctions against Belarus
The EU summit also made a breakthrough in imposing sanctions for the controversial presidential elections in Belarus. As the AFP news agency learned from the diplomats on Friday evening, Cyprus also agreed to a compromise. The country had blocked punitive measures for weeks because it wanted to enforce sanctions against Turkey due to the conflict over natural gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.
Shortly after the controversial presidential elections in August, the EU announced sanctions. Now there is a list of more than 40 Belarusians who are responsible for electoral fraud and violence against protesters.
Clear messages to Belarus and Turkey: the President of the EU Commission, von der Leyen.
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Bild: AP
Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) described the EU summit resolutions on Belarus and Turkey as “great progress”. The sanctions adopted against supporters of the controversial Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka are “a very important sign,” he said late Friday.
There was a “long and difficult discussion” about the EU policy on Turkey with member states Cyprus and Greece, which are having a dispute with Turkey over gas exploration in the Mediterranean. However, they want to call for a “constructive agenda with Turkey, provided that efforts to reduce tensions also continue.”
She hopes that there will now be “dynamic negotiations” with Turkey, also with a view to refugee policy and customs union with the EU, Merkel stressed. “I can say for the Federal Republic of Germany … that we want to advance this positive agenda in the talks with Turkey because we know of the importance, despite all the differences, of the strategic relations with Turkey.” At the summit in December, the EU will repeatedly address Turkey’s policy.
Overall, Merkel has called the summit “very successful” so far. It will continue on Friday morning.
