EU summit: Turkish sanctions on agenda as Erdogan shrugs threats

Concerned that their credibility is at stake, European Union leaders are set to consider on Thursday expanding sanctions against Turkey over its exploration of gas reserves in Mediterranean waters claimed by EU members Greece and Cyprus.

At their last summit in October, the leaders offered “a positive political EU-Turkey agenda” to Ankara, including trade and customs benefits and the prospect of more funds to help Turkey manage Syrian refugees on its territory if it halts its “illegal activities” in the eastern Mediterranean.

But EU foreign ministers unanimously agreed this week that Turkey’s behaviour has not improved. After chairing their videoconference on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said “in several aspects, the situation has worsened”.

“The stakes are very precise, very clear: the credibility of the European Union,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told reporters. He recalled that the leaders said in October that there would be consequences if Turkey “continued its delinquent behaviour”.

“So now, it will be seen whether, as Europe, we are really credible in what we ourselves have agreed to,” Mitsotakis said.

The 27 EU countries are split over how best to handle Turkey. France and Cyprus have pushed for tougher measures like economic sanctions, but other countries are concerned about further undermining the country’s already ravaged economy and destabilising the region.

“France will keep a clear position,” said French President Emmanuel Macron, ahead of the summit. “We must be coherent with the decisions and our demands to Turkey from last October, draw the consequences and we must defend sovereignty and stability of EU states, in particular in the eastern Mediterranean but also the whole region.”

Still, EU diplomats fear the bloc’s “credibility, values and interests” are on the line.

“We can’t say there’s a problem in October and do nothing in December when things have got worse,” one said before the summit, according to The Associated Press news agency. He was not permitted to speak on the record as the deliberations were continuing.

On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan brushed off the threat of sanctions and accused the EU, which Turkey is a candidate to join although its membership talks are blocked, of acting “dishonestly” and failing to keep its promises.

“Any decision to impose sanctions against Turkey won’t be of great concern to Turkey,” Erdogan told reporters.

About a year ago, the EU set up a system for imposing travel bans and asset freezes on people, companies or organisations linked to drilling activities “which have not been authorized by the Republic of Cyprus, within its territorial sea or in its exclusive economic zone or on its continental shelf”.

Two officials are currently on the list: the vice president of the Turkish Petroleum Corporation and the deputy director of its exploration department. The idea would be to add more people or some organisations to the list, the diplomats confirmed.

It is unclear anyway whether more sanctions would slow Turkey down. Steps were taken in the past — the slashing of funds meant to prepare Turkey for EU membership and the virtual freezing of its accession talks — yet Ankara has only become more vocal.

On top of that, Erdogan has shown his willingness to encourage refugees from Syria to cross the border into Greece and on into Europe to ensure that his demands are well understood.

Turkey also plays a military role in Libya, a main point in Africa for refugees and migrants hoping to reach Europe.

The EU leaders in Brussels will also be discussing the coronavirus pandemic, issues relating to the budget, and Brexit.