The Foreign Affairs Council decided on Monday 14 October to set up a framework regime of restrictive measures in retaliation for Turkey's continued “illegal” drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean.
“The Council, on the basis of the preparatory work already undertaken, agrees that a framework regime of restrictive measures against natural and legal persons responsible for or involved in illegal oil drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean is to be put in place”, thus announcing the conclusions adopted by the European Ministers for Foreign Affairs.
Before the press, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, announced that she would present proposals to this effect “in the coming days”.
According to a European source, including the possibility of sectoral measures on the sale of equipment useful for drilling in this framework had been proposed to Member States, but this proposal was not retained.
Ms Mogherini pointed out that once the legal acts have been adopted, “then, of course, as always when we have a framework for restrictive measures in place, the filling in of the framework, the names [to be included], will have to be based on concrete proposals”.
The EU had already adopted such a regulatory framework to increase pressure on the authorities in non-Member States before revoking it without having adopted targeted sanctions, for example for the Maldives (see EUROPE 12269/20).
In a written statement, Cypriot Minister Nikos Christodoulides said that the EU’s decision was “a clear message to Turkey that its actions are condemned, but also to all those involved that their actions will have consequences”.
In their conclusions, the ministers also reaffirm their full solidarity with Cyprus regarding respect for its sovereignty and its sovereign rights in accordance with international law.
The subject will be discussed at the European Council on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 October. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)