Turkey has to refrain from unilateral actions as a precondition to allow a dialogue with Greece to advance and the EU27 reaffirmed their political consensus to explore and apply restrictive measures on Turkey in case of further escalation till the leaders Summit in the end of September, according to a readout of the Informal Foreign Ministers` Council (Gymnich) that discussed tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean in Berlin.
More specifically, talking to the Press after the meeting, High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell said that “on the Eastern Mediterranean and Turkey we also had a good discussion”.
“We are clear and determined in defending European Union’s interests and solidarity with Greece and Cyprus”, he stated.
“Turkey has to refrain from unilateral actions. This is a basic element to allow the dialogue to advance”, Borrell clarified.
“What we want is to find paths towards a healthier relationship. It is in the mutual interest of both the European Union and Turkey.
For this reason, we must walk a fine line between preserving a true space for dialogue and, at the same time, showing collective strength in the defence of our common interests”, HRVP Borrell stated.
As he said: “we want to give a serious chance to dialogue, and I very much appreciate and thank the efforts deployed by Germany in this attempt to look for solutions through dialogue between Turkey and Greece and Cyprus.”
“As High Representative, I will try to create space for negotiations on all issues of our complex and difficult relations with Turkey”, Borrell noted.
“It is equally clear that there is a growing frustration in the face of Turkish behaviour. On that, the Council expressed a political consensus to ask the relevant Council Working Groups to speed up their work in order to add individuals suggested by Cyprus to the list of the existing regime for illegal drillings in the Eastern Mediterranean, with a view to a rapid adoption”, he explained.
“Finally, we also agreed that in the absence of progress in engaging with Turkey, we could develop a list of further restrictive measures that could be discussed at the European Council on 24-25 September”, the HRVP concluded.
According to EU sources, the options presented by the HRVP Borrell to the EU27 included the following:
1. Restrictive measures in case of continuation of illegal drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean.
2. Registration of ships involved in illegal research activities.
3. Sectoral sanctions (sales, procurement, export of material related to energy research, transfer of technology and products)
4. Financial services (banking and industrial sector) – ban on lending to Turkey by state-owned banks in EU.
5. Possibility to reduce European funds.
6. In case of non-compliance by Turkey by September, travel ban can be considered.
7. Further strengthen the registrations for actions of Turkey in the sea zones of Republic of Cyprus and Greece under the existing sanctions regime against Turkey.