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With Turkey continuing to provocatively disparage the EU. and ostentatiously ignoring the recommendations and calls for a change of attitude not only in the Eastern Mediterranean, but in general towards the EU, the European leaders at the Summit next Thursday will not have many options, since the question will not be, but what measures will be decided against Turkey.
Speaking at the Web Summit in Lisbon, Prime Minister K. Mitsotakis warned yesterday that “it does not make sense that Turkey will not face consequences if it continues with its provocative actions”, while from Nicosia, Foreign Minister N. Dendias after speaking with N. Anastasiadis and his counterpart N. Christodoulidis stressed that Europeans must now assume their responsibilities.
In Brussels, a European official who reported to the summit acknowledged that “there is no Member State that does not recognize that the situation has deteriorated” and added: “The assessment of the situation is that Turkey did not respond positively to the opportunities offered by the October 1. These are facts. Member States will decide on the question of political consequences. Turkey is and will continue to be a very important neighbor in Southeast Europe and we will continue to have relations with it, but we ask that you take positive action in a number of issues like the eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus, Syria, Libya, Nagorno-Karabakh. We have called for a policy change, but this has not happened so far. “
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In this climate and although it has been preceded by a marathon of contacts between Prime Minister K. Mitsotakis and N. Dendias with their European counterparts, the first discussion on the subject of Turkey on Monday in the Council of Ministers and the final evaluation in the Summit were not met. It will be able to escape the decision-making process, as Turkey ignored the opportunity offered by the October European Council.
This does not mean that the decision to act is a simple or given matter, as the Germans will try to “soften” the European reaction by arguing that the channels must be left open, that relations must not be irretrievably broken and that there should be no extreme reactions from Turkey. , which, as they imply, Greece will face first.
In this diplomatic bazaar, the axes on which Athens and Nicosia will move have been formed:
-The discussion and decisions should be made on the basis of the October 1 Conclusions, which gave Turkey a deadline to stop the provocative movements in December. Otherwise, as indicated in the Conclusions, “the EU will use all the means and options at its disposal, including in accordance with Article 29 TEU and Article 215 TFEU, to defend its interests and the interests of its States. members. ”(Which provide for restrictive measures against natural or legal persons, third states).
– Athens claims that the measures are not punitive but mainly dissuasive and will act like a sword of Damocles over Ankara if it repeats the challenges.
– The partners must realize that Turkey is not only a threat to Greece and Cyprus, but that its expansionist policy from the Caucasus to the Mediterranean and Libya, the instrumentalization of immigration make it a systemic threat and a threat to the whole . Europe.
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In this context, Athens and Nicosia seek:
-Geographic extent of sanctions already imposed on individuals and companies involved in illegal drilling in the Cyprus EEZ, so that people or companies involved in illegal activities in the Eastern Mediterranean or even Libya can be added to this list (as discussed France ).
– A decision will be sought instructing the Commission and High Representative Z. Borel to compile within one month a list of specific measures that will affect sectors of the Turkish economy and specific categories of activities. N. Dendias will make an effort in the Council on Monday but also in the Summit of Prime Minister K. Mitsotakis to have a report or, in any case, to be “photographed” the specific areas to which the measures will refer.
It is interesting that, in addition to Greece and Cyprus, who want a decision to impose measures due to illegal activities in the Cyprus EEZ and the Greek continental shelf, France is also promoting Turkey’s destabilizing policy in Libya and the dangerous attempt to ignite the Religious fanaticism among even Portugal has expressed great concern about Turkey’s attempt to join the former Portuguese colonies in Africa by strengthening Islamic radicalism.
– Nicosia is also looking for it and this is something that N. Christodoulidis promotes in his contacts with his counterparts, the incorporation of new names of Turkish people and companies in the list of sanctions that are already in force.
Some of Turkey’s supporters, and to some extent Germany, would prefer a simple replay of the October decision, but this is a disappearing scenario as it would be a blow to the credibility of the EU, it would really seem “like the mouse, versus to the cat “(reversing Mr. Michel’s unfortunate report) and would ultimately further discourage Mr. Erdogan from taking such a” no decision “as a green light to intensify his aggressive and expansionary policies.
The factors that want a more “neutral” treatment of Turkey cite as positive movements the departure of Oruc Reis and the prospect of … Greek-Turkish dialogue, as well as the attempt to restart the process on the Cyprus question, issues that show the intentions and maneuvers of Turkey. Last minute does not convince anyone. However, it is positive that Brussels finally realized that Michel’s famous proposal (proposed by T. Erdogan) for a Regional Conference in the Eastern Mediterranean “cannot be done in a vacuum, but must be preceded by developments in the Eastern Mediterranean “. before it happened, “said the same European official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
