At the informal Gymnich meeting in Berlin on 27 and 28 August, the European Foreign Affairs Ministers once again called for dialogue with Turkey, all the while agreeing on the preparation of additional targeted sanctions in connection with illegal drilling activities in the Mediterranean.
“What we want is to find paths towards a healthier relationship. (...) For this reason, we must walk a fine line between preserving a true space for dialogue and, at the same time, showing collective strength in the defence of our common interests”, summed up the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, at the end of the meeting.
Mr Borrell began by emphasising the importance of the diplomatic channel. “We want to give a serious chance to dialogue”, he explained, welcoming the efforts made by Germany “in this attempt to find solutions through dialogue between Turkey and Greece and Cyprus”.
At his side, German Minister Heiko Maas made it clear that a diplomatic solution was the primary objective, that his country was making every effort, and would continue to do so, towards such a solution. “This is the only way out of the crisis. Today, we want to give diplomacy and dialogue a chance”, he added.
For his part, the High Representative said he will try to “create space for negotiations on all issues of our complex and difficult relations with Turkey”, while adding that the most urgent issues to be resolved were drilling in the Mediterranean and the presence of Turkish vessels in Greek and Cypriot waters.
However, in order to allow the dialogue to progress, Turkey has to refrain from unilateral action, warned Messrs. Borrell and Maas.
Additional sanctions in sight
Parallel to the attempts at negotiations, the Europeans are going to crack down because, according to the head of European diplomacy, “there is a growing frustration in the face of Turkish behaviour” within the Member States. On that, “the EU Council expressed a political consensus to ask the relevant EU Council Working Groups to speed up their work in order to add individuals suggested by Cyprus to the list of the existing regime for illegal drillings in the Eastern Mediterranean, with a view to a rapid adoption”, announced Mr Borrell.
And the EU could go even further, since the Heads of State or Government have asked Mr Borrell to present a series of proposals in case diplomatic channels fail to produce results.
According to the High Representative, the ministers agreed that, in the absence of progress in engaging with Turkey, a list of new restrictive measures could be drawn up for discussion at the European Council on 24 and 25 September.
And there are many additional measures that can be taken. Mr Borrell thus embarked on a list of options, all of which will require the unanimity of the 27 Member States. In addition to sanctions against public figures, he also mentioned the possibility to: - penalise assets, vessels and participation in activities deemed illegal; - prohibit the use of European ports, European capacities, technologies or supplies; - or to “activate the financial component for those activities that we consider illegal”.
“We can also use measures related to sectoral activities in areas where Turkey’s economy is most closely linked to the European economy”, he warned. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)