EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has announced the preparation of further punitive measures against Turkey. These could be resolved if Ankara extends its illegal #gas exploration in the Eastern #Mediterranean again.
eudebates #Migration #Greece #Turkey #illegalmigrants #migration
At the same time, he wanted to continue trying to reduce tensions over negotiations, said Borrell after an EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels. Turkey is still an important country for the EU.
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) also emphasized “Turkey’s strategic importance in foreign and security policy issues”. They wanted the talks with Turkey to continue and that was why Borrell had given his back. However, there must be positive signals from Turkey regarding drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, on the other hand, took a much tougher tone and also threatened Turkey with punitive measures for alleged violations of the UN arms embargo. After the deliberations, he said there was an agreement to ensure that the embargo was fully complied with by means of sanctions. In addition, the mandate of the EU operation Irini to control embargoes in the Mediterranean should be fully used. The discussion on Turkey was taboo.
So far, Cyprus, in particular, has called for stricter sanctions against Turkey because of natural gas exploration. However, several other EU countries fear negative effects on cooperation in refugee policy. The EU relies on cooperation with Ankara to curb illegal migration. To the annoyance of Brussels, the Turkish government repeatedly uses this point for threatening gestures.
The EU had already issued entry bans and asset freezes in February against people allegedly involved in natural gas drilling outside the EU state of Cyprus. Already in 2019, the EU had already decided to restrict the allocation of EU funds and suspended negotiations on an air traffic agreement.
Turkey rejects allegations of illegal drilling. It takes the view that the waters in which it tests for natural gas are part of its continental shelf. Turkey also intends to use the wells to secure Turkish Cypriot shares in the natural gas business.
The background to the dispute is the division of the island of Cyprus. Turkey has occupied the north since 1974, where a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey, was established. The entire island, on the other hand, is internationally recognized as the Republic of Cyprus and has been a member of the EU since 2004, but can only enforce its law in the south.
Criticism came again on Monday about the planned conversion of Hagia Sophia from a museum into a mosque. “This decision will inevitably arouse suspicion, lead to renewed divisions between religious communities and undermine our efforts for dialogue and cooperation,” said Borrell, referring to the building that was once the largest church in Christianity.
Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn spoke of a “blow to the Alliance of Civilizations”. This was launched in 2005 at the suggestion of the former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and the then Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The goal should be a better understanding between the western and the oriental world.
