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The French chancellor announced on Sunday that the European Council, to be held at the end of September, will be devoted mainly to the Turkish question and the tension in the eastern Mediterranean, and in particular to studying the imposition of sanctions on Ankara.
“During the European Council later this month, the proposed archive will be the archive of Turkey,” Jean-Yves Le Drian told France Inter radio.
He added: “We have prepared this Turkish dossier several days ago with the foreign ministers in Berlin, to list the response tools that we can use towards Turkey.”
The relations of several countries of the European Union, especially France, with Turkey are experiencing strong tension, especially on the Libyan issue and the issue of immigration, as well as security and gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean, where Ankara is located. accused of following an expansionist policy.
The French Foreign Minister added: “We say to Turkey: from now until the European Council is convened, the ability to debate the eastern Mediterranean must first be demonstrated. It is up to the Turks to debate this issue (…). This it’s possible! “.
The situation has become particularly volatile in the region a month after the escalation that began on August 10 when Turkey sent a seismic exploration ship to the waters claimed by Athens.
France reinforced its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean in late August, in a sign of support for its Greek partner within the European Union. The two capitals have been exchanging accusations for months.
Le Drian refused to specify the nature of these possible sanctions. He stressed that “there is a whole series of measures that can be taken. We are not helpless at all and he knows it very well.”
However, he alluded to a series of economic sanctions, accusing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of creating a “national-Islamic atmosphere” aimed at “hiding the reality of the economic situation” in Turkey.
The European Council, which includes the heads of state and government of the European Union, will meet on 24 and 25 September.
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