The leaders of the European Union condemned Thursday (October 29th) the provocations and the rhetoric
"totally unacceptable"
of Ankara but will not decide on any measure before their summit in December, announced Thursday the president of the Council Charles Michel at the end of a European summit by videoconference.
"We condemn the recent unilateral actions
(of Turkey)
in the Eastern Mediterranean, the provocations and the rhetoric, which are totally unacceptable"
, declared Charles Michel in a brief intervention at the end of the press conference devoted to the presentation of the measures European Union to fight against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read also: Erdogan mobilizes Islamists against France
France wants the EU to sanction the attacks of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan against President Emmanuel Macron, accused of
"Islamophobia"
for having defended the right to caricature the Prophet Muhammad during a tribute to a decapitated French teacher for have shown pictures in class.
Relations between Turkey and France have gradually deteriorated since last year, due in particular to disagreements over Syria, Libya and the eastern Mediterranean.
Tensions are also very high with Greece and Cyprus because of disputes over maritime borders in areas rich in gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean.
At a European summit in early October, the EU decided to
“work on two tracks: a positive track and a less positive track ... Until now Turkey has not chosen the positive path.
We will have the opportunity to come back to this subject in December ”
, he concluded.
The EU has adopted a dual approach with regard to Ankara: it has undertaken to improve certain forms of cooperation and to relaunch the customs union, provided that Turkey ceases its illegal drilling in Cyprus waters and confirms its willingness to dialogue with Athens.
Read also: Erdogan leads Europe by the nose
"If Ankara continues its illegal actions, we will use all the instruments at our disposal,"
warned Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
The European executive has been tasked with developing economic sanctions and they are ready to be
“used immediately”
, she said.
EU leaders will examine
"before the end of the year whether positive developments have been recorded,"
Charles Michel said in October.
But Germany, which is mediating with the Turkish president, considers any decision on sanctions inappropriate for the moment and is blocking requests from other member states, several European sources told AFP.
