The EU-Turkey dispute over natural gas drilling off Cyprus is facing another escalation: EU foreign ministers are expected to give their green light on Monday to sanction economic sanctions in order to crack down on illegal drilling.
Representatives of the EU states agreed on Friday to decide at the ministerial meeting the necessary legal framework, as the SPIEGEL learned from diplomats of several countries.
In the multi-stage process, this is the final step in allowing sanctions against individuals, government agencies or companies. Although there will not be a list of sanctions targets on Monday, a timetable for further action does not yet exist, according to EU diplomats.
Insiders, however, assume that there will be penalties before the end of the year, as there is no indication that the Turkish government will react soon.
Turkey unimpressed by recent warnings
The conflict has its roots in the 1974 Turkish military intervention. Since then, the Mediterranean island of Cyprus has been divided into a Greek south and a Turkish north; however, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is only recognized by Ankara.
In terms of international law, the entire Mediterranean island has been a member of the EU since 2004. Nevertheless, Ankara claims part of the large natural gas reserves discovered outside Cyprus. Despite fierce protests from the EU, a few months ago Turkey sent two drillships to the so-called Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus.
The EU calls the drilling illegal. As early as July, it cut back funds for Turkey, put the negotiations for an aviation agreement on hold, and agreed not to conduct any further top-level talks on business and trade with Ankara for the time being.
In mid-October EU Foreign Ministers tasked Foreign Affairs Commissioner Federica Mogherini to formulate the legal framework for sanctions. He should now be decided on Monday. Recently, only Hungary had blocked, but now also agrees.
In a next step, individual EU states can propose sanctions. They must then be decided by the Committee of Ambassadors. Diplomats assume that the government of the EU member Cyprus will quickly submit relevant proposals.
