EU threatens Turkey with sanctions over ‘illegal’ drilling off Cyprus

The European Union has threatened to impose sanctions on Turkey over the country’s “illegal” drilling for gas and oil off Cyprus.

A draft of a joint decision between national envoys in Brussels seen by Reuters said that planned negotiations with Turkey over an air transport agreement would be suspended, along with other dialogue, and financial assistance to the country would be scaled back.

Turkey has vehemently denied that it is acting illegally by drilling for gas in the waters near Cyprus, saying that it is acting within its own continental shelf or in the territorial waters of northern Cyprus, which only Turkey recognises as a breakaway state.

A state-of the-art drilling vessel, the Fatih, launched operations two months ago. On Wednesday, Turkey said it was to expand its exploration efforts with a second vessel, the Yavuz.

Cyprus, which claims exclusive economic rights, said it will defend its rights against Turkey’s encroachment with all diplomatic and legal means.

Greece and Cyprus have previously urged the EU to take punitive measures against Turkey amid the escalating tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.

“Despite our best intentions to keep good neighbourly relations with Turkey, its continued escalation and challenge to the sovereignty of our member state Cyprus will inevitably lead the EU to respond in full solidarity,” said Donald Tusk, president of the European Council of ministers, on Wednesday.

The EU committed to give $5 billion to Turkey for political reforms and other projects between 2014 and 2020 so it could prepare itself for potential accession. It previously withheld $200 million due to deteriorating human rights in the country.

The bloc last month warned Turkey it would impose sanctions in solidarity with Cyprus. Brussels has voiced grave concern over the declared intention “to illegally conduct” a new drilling operation off the island.

In a statement on Monday, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, pledged that it would continue to stand by Cyprus, describing the dispatch of the second ship as an “unacceptable escalation”.

Ms Mogherini has urged Turkey to stop actions that have a “serious negative impact” on EU-Turkey relations and asked them to respect the sovereignty of Cyprus.

Greece and Cyprus have previously urged the EU to take punitive measures against Turkey amid escalating tensions