On Thursday 20 June, the European Council asked in its conclusions, at the Council of the EU's invitation (see EUROPE 12277/7), the Commission and the European External Action Service to present “without delay” options for appropriate measures “including targeted measures” in response to Turkey's illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In front of the press, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, warned that these would be “concrete measures”, adding that Turkey's actions were of “serious concern”. While the leaders echo in substance the remarks of their ministers on 18 June, the conclusions they adopted are stronger.
In these conclusions, the European Council warns that “the EU will continue to closely monitor developments and stands ready to respond appropriately and in full solidarity with Cyprus” and that it will remain bound by the issue and return to it accordingly.
Leaders call on Ankara to exercise restraint, respect Cyprus' sovereign rights and refrain from any illegal action, stressing the “serious immediate negative impact that such illegal actions have across the range of EU-Turkey relations”. Turkey has not yet responded to repeated calls from the EU to stop these illegal drilling activities, they deplore.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet several European leaders at the G20 Summit in Osaka on 28 and 29 June.
Enlargement. As usual, the Heads of State and Government also endorsed the conclusions of their Ministers of 18 June on the Association and Stabilisation Process (see EUROPE 12277/6).
Extension of sanctions against Russia.
The European Council also approved a six-month extension of economic sanctions against Russia, “with a view to the implementation of the Minsk agreements”, European Council President Donald Tusk told the press.
In their conclusions, the leaders also underlined their concerns about the Presidential Decree of 24 April allowing for the simplified issuance of passports in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, “which runs counter to the spirit and the objectives of the Minsk agreements”. The European Council therefore expresses its readiness to examine other options, “including non-recognition of Russian passports issued in contradiction to the Minsk agreements, in close coordination with its international partners”. According to a European source, such a measure would be technically difficult to implement.
Moreover, while 17 July 2019 will mark the 5th anniversary of the crash of MH17, the European Council welcomes the announcement by the Joint Investigation Team on 19 June that criminal charges will be brought in the Netherlands against four individuals, again calling on Russia to cooperate fully in the investigation.
Moldova. Leaders also welcomed the “peaceful transfer of power” in Moldova and called on the Commission and the High Representative to work on a set of concrete measures to support the country on the basis of a sustainable implementation by Moldova of reforms under the deep and comprehensive Association Agreement/Free Trade Agreement.
See conclusions: https://bit.ly/2Ku3s5Q (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)