Brussels has drawn up a draft sanctions list as the bloc prepares to strike back at Ankara’s drilling for gas and oil off Cyprus. The EU will put high-level talks and negotiations on air transport deal on hold, as well as cut funding to Ankara next year, unless they can reach an agreement to end the bitter row. Cyprus argues that Turkey is encroaching in its waters where the Mediterranean island has exclusive economic rights.
Senior diplomats will meet in Brussels today to continue discussions ahead of a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers on Monday.
They are plotting to support European Commission plans to “reduce pre-accession assistance to Turkey for 2020”, according to a draft of the plans.
The document said: “In light of Turkey’s continued and new illegal drilling activities, the EU decides to suspend negotiations on the Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement and not to hold further meetings of the high-level dialogues for the time being.
“The Council endorses the Commission’s proposal to reduce the pre-accession assistance to Turkey for 2020 and invites the European Investment Bank to review its lending activities in Turkey, notably with regard to sovereign-backed lending.”
The joint EU statement, which may still be altered, also pledges to introduce more restrictive measures against Turkey if the drilling continues.
EU foreign affairs supremo Federica Mogherini this week voiced “grave concern” over Turkey’s publicly declared intention to “illegal conduct” a new drilling operation off Cyprus.
She said: “We call on Turkish authorities, once again, to refrain from such actions, act in a spirit of good neighbourliness and respect the sovereignty and sovereign right of the Republic of Cyprus in accordance with international law.
“The European Union will respond appropriately and in full solidarity with Cyprus.”
Turkey’s Fatih ship started drilling 42 miles off Cyprus’ west coast last month.
And a second vessel, Yavuz, has now sailed to an area on Cyprus’ east coast on a similar mission.
Ankara has hit back at EU officials, denying claims that its drilling in waters off Cyprus is illegal.
The country’s foreign ministry accused Brussels of overreaching, insisting the EU should not consider itself impartial mediator for the divided island.
Turkish officials said that they will continue to safeguard Turkish-Cypriots’ rights until they are included in the island’s decision-making processes, including its shared resources.
Ankara maintains that the drilling is taking place within its own territorial waters where Turkish-Cypriots would also be entitled to an equal share of resources found.
Strongman Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has often lashed out at international oil companies commission by the Greek-Cypriot government.
ExxonMobil, Total and Eni have all won licences to search for natural resources around the island.
Last year, Turkish gunboats were deployed to prevent End, an Italian oil firm, from conducting a drilling operation.