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In the conflict with Erdogan, the EU relies on the triple strategy “MMM”
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The dispute over gas reserves in the Mediterranean continues to worsen
The dispute between Turkey and Greece over gas deposits in the Mediterranean is getting worse. Greece’s political leaders are “greedy for money” and “incompetent,” Turkish President Erdogan said in Ankara in early September.
The EU is now taking a position on the growing gas dispute between Turkey and Greece in the Mediterranean. Despite the clear announcement from Brussels, Ankara is not impressed. But that was just foreplay.
reThe words were chosen concisely: the EU could react with a carrot and stick if Turkey is unwilling to give in on the gas dispute with Greece, EU Council President Charles Michel said at the weekend. Member states would carefully analyze the means by which they could improve relations with Turkey and “with which we react if we are not respected,” Michel said. And he made it clear: “We want them to respect us.”
Politicians in Brussels and in EU capitals are watching with growing concern the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Turkey and Greece have been irreconcilable for weeks and recently war threats have even been raised. Over the weekend, Greece reinforced its military units on the border with Turkey.
On Sunday, Michel, who coordinates the vote among the EU member states, telephoned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and for the first time took a clear position on behalf of all EU countries. The national capitals are behind Greece and Cyprus, informed the Turkish politician. And he asked him to work to reduce the escalation of the conflict and abandon anything that could further fuel tensions with Greece.
Erdogan was not very impressed by the clear advantage of Brussels. The Turkish president called on Michel to be “fair, impartial and objective” and to “behave responsibly” on “regional issues”, especially in the eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish presidential office said after the phone call. In other words, don’t let the EU interfere.
However, the EU is a long way from this, especially since Cyprus, together with Greece, is another EU country involved in the gas conflict and Turkey is an important strategic partner of the EU. Europeans rely on a triple “MMM” strategy in the conflict: Merkel, Macron and Michel: the three politicians are working at the highest level to defuse the conflict. Each of the top three politicians has their own style and tactics.
French President Emmanuel Macron encountered a strong reaction from the start: Paris fully supports Greece, Macron declared in August, and immediately sent two fighter jets and a frigate to the eastern Mediterranean. The gratitude for the offensive show of solidarity was immediate: Greece, which, measured by its economic strength, spends a lot on defense, wants to increase its defense spending and now seems to be thinking of buying French planes and ships.
The dispute over gas reserves in the Mediterranean continues to worsen
The dispute between Turkey and Greece over gas deposits in the Mediterranean is getting worse. Greece’s political leaders are “greedy for money” and “incompetent,” Turkish President Erdogan said in Ankara in early September.
Source: WELT / Christoph Hipp
Chancellor Angela Merkel also intervened, but with a less dramatic gesture. The relationship between her and Erdogan is not without tension. But the Turkish president is known to listen to Merkel. After Merkel’s intervention, Erdogan, for example, stopped Turkish test wells near Cyprus, at least temporarily.
Over the weekend, Merkel and Erdogan discussed the tension in a video link. In it she declared that she could not accept the support of some EU countries for Greece. More recently, the Austrian government had also backed Athens. Despite the criticism, Erdogan has been willing to speak publicly for the first time in a long time.
EU decides sanctions against Turkey
Meanwhile, Michel has proposed a conference on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, in which both Turkey and NATO should participate. Italy supports this project.
“It is true that Michel speaks clearly with Erdogan; the EU agrees on this issue, ”says Michael Gahler, foreign policy spokesman for the conservative EPP group in the European Parliament. “Erdogan is massively violating international law and the rights of Greece.” Gahler assumes that Erdogan wants to divert attention from internal political problems. “I would like both parties to be willing to enter into a dialogue. Naturally, it should be easier for the Greek government, precisely because it is right and has the support of its partners.”
At their summit on September 24-25, the EU heads of state and government want to decide whether and what sanctions should be imposed on Turkey. However, some EU states want to induce Erdogan to reduce the escalation with concessions, for example, with an expansion of the customs union, more money for refugees on the border with Syria or the visa-free entry of Turkish citizens to the EU, which Ankara has long wanted.
Athens and Ankara claim maritime areas in the eastern Mediterranean where oil and gas are suspected. Turkish research vessels are searching for gas in waters claimed by Greece and are accompanied by warships. Greece has also sent warships to the areas
