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The first messages sent by the draft conclusions with a view to tomorrow’s EU Summit on the issue of sanctions in Turkey are timid.
Question mark
Essentially, what emerges so far is the EU’s attempt to expand the list of possible sanctions on individuals and companies, but these sanctions are not particularly harsh and in any case the question remains whether and when they will be implemented.
From the data so far, it is unclear whether the immediate imposition of sanctions will be decided tomorrow or the day after.
According to what has been known of draft conclusions the European Council:
* calls on the Council to prepare additional registers in accordance with its CFSP Decision 2019/1894 and, if necessary, work to broaden the scope
* Calls on the High Representative and the Commission to report on the state of political and economic relations between the EU and Turkey, as well as options for consideration at the March 2021 European Council
* The EU will try to coordinate these issues with the US.
In the dinner
At the same time, the European Council is expected to request the High Commissioner to continue preparations for the Multilateral Conference on the Eastern Mediterranean.
It is worth noting that in his letter to the EU leaders before the Summit, Charles Michel He clarified that relations with Turkey will be discussed at the dinner, noting at the same time that relations between the United States and the EU have entered a new phase after Biden’s election.
“During dinner, I would like to address our important international agenda. After the elections, our relations with the United States will enter a new phase and we must lay the foundations for a strong and equal partnership. “As agreed in October, we will also return to relations with Turkey,” said the President of the European Council.
Merkel has closed papers
Next to Angela Merkel In a speech to the German parliament this morning on the occasion of the 2021 budget debate, he refrained from opening his documents on his position at the upcoming EU Summit on imposing sanctions on Turkey.
Indeed, at the same time that the EU appears to be making wishes regarding the withdrawal of Oruc Reis from the Eastern Mediterranean, Tayyip erdogan He does not hesitate to provoke a few hours before the Summit, ignoring any call to de-escalate the tension.
But also the representative of Erdogan’s ruling party, Omer celik He essentially threatened and blackmailed the EU into not imposing sanctions since, as he argued due to geography, Europe needs Turkey.
A clear message of consequences
However, Turkey’s line lately consists of the transformation of white into black, as it accuses Greece that it is she that denies the dialogue and not Turkey itself.
but nevertheless Kyriakos Mitsotakis Speaking on the EPP teleconference, he called on EU leaders to send a clear message to Turkey that it would suffer consequences as it missed the opportunity given to it in recent months to reduce tensions and challenges.
In fact, the Prime Minister kept the arms embargo on the table of the EU discussions, which in fact even support German MEPs. However, it is not clear with what decision at the Summit tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, Greece will be satisfied and will be able to say that it has achieved its goal.
It is also worth noting that while in terms of rhetoric Kyriakos Mitsotakis has not ruled out a veto, he does not seem to favor such a tough stance against Germany and other powers that resist sanctions or, at best, seek sanctions in Turkey.
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