Eastern Mediterranean: Turkey must immediately end illegal drilling activities. [ Ссылка ] #eudebates #Turkey #Dialogue [ Ссылка ] #heritage #debates #HagiaSophia #Migration #Borrell #Turkey #Ankara #Erdogan
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All eyes on US, Germany, France, Greece and EU meetings over Turkey
David McAllister, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Mr President, during the past weeks, we have witnessed an alarming military build-up in the Eastern Mediterranean. All of us are extremely concerned by the very real risk of a direct military confrontation.
Last Thursday, in the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), we discussed this dangerous escalation with the Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs of Greece and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey. It was a remarkable meeting in several aspects.
Listening to the comments of colleagues across party lines, for me four points are very clear. First, de—escalation is urgently needed. Second, we fully support the Council’s clear position of solidarity with our Member States, Greece and Cyprus. Third, we condemn the Turkish drilling activities in the exclusive economic zones of Greece and Cyprus, and we consider them illegal. Fourth, at the next European Council the option of additional sanctions against Turkey must be openly discussed in the light of continued Turkish aggression.
This conflict can only be resolved through dialogue and negotiations. I very much hope that the ongoing mediation efforts will bear fruit. But, as the High Representative just underlined, further concrete steps towards creating an environment conducive to dialogue in good faith are needed now.
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MEPs condemn Turkey’s actions in the Greek and Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone and express full solidarity with the two member states.
MEPs voiced their concern regarding the ongoing dispute and the related risk of further military escalation between EU member states and an EU candidate country
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Ahead of a Special European Council meeting on 24/25 September on the dangerous escalation and the role of Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean, MEPs express their full solidarity with Greece and Cyprus, in a resolution adopted by 601 votes in favour, 57 against and 36 abstentions.
Stating that the EU is clear and determined in defending its interests, MEPs call on Turkey to immediately end any further illegal exploration and drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, to refrain from violating Greek airspace and Greek and Cypriot territorial waters and stop “nationalistic warmongering rhetoric”
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Deteriorating state of EU-Turkey relations
A solution can only be found through dialogue, diplomacy and negotiations, MEPs say, calling on all actors involved, especially Turkey, to commit to an urgent de-escalation by withdrawing their military forces from the area. They welcomed Turkey’s decision to withdraw one of its seismic research vessels from the area on 12 September as the first step towards easing tensions, condemning at the same time Turkey’s plans to extend the term of duty of another drilling ship.
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MEPs express serious concern about the current state of EU-Turkey relations, which are being seriously affected by the dire human rights situation in Turkey and the erosion of democracy and rule of law.
Further sanctions are not excluded
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