EU leaders have agreed to impose sanctions on an undisclosed number of Turkish officials and companies involved in Cypriot-claimed water gas – but they have postponed major decisions such as trade tariffs or arms embargoes until they consult the upcoming Biden administration.
After hours of heated debate, the EU Council’s decision to reach a decision frustrated hardliners such as France, Cyprus and Greece, who pressed the European Union to take more urgent and stable steps to deny Turkey’s foreign policy.
Nevertheless, the Turkish Foreign Ministry responded: “We reject the biased and illegitimate attitude that was introduced in the decision of the EU Summit on 10 December after pressure from solidarity and veto.”
The foreign ministry added that the decisions reached at the EU leaders’ conference were “illegal” and “again ignored the Turkish Cypriot people, who are co-owners of the island of Cyprus.”
The names of those facing sanctions will be revealed in the next few weeks by EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell. He also agreed to prepare a proposal on Turkey’s broader approach by March, giving the EU time to consult with Joe Biden’s national security team.❐
