EU leaders are scheduled to meet in a special meeting on September 24-25 to discuss a response against Turkey’s gas exploration in disputed waters located between Cyprus and Crete island of Greece. In February, the EU called Turkey’s activity unauthorized and imposed sanctions on two officials of state-owned Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığı (TPAO).
Turkey’s foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said he was not expecting formal sanctions against Turkey from EU leaders. He said there might be possible sanctions on the Turkish surveying vessel, the Oruc Reis and her crews. However, he added that such sanctions would not stop Turkey. The ship has halted seismic surveys and returned to Turkey’s Mediterranean port at Antalya.
EU top diplomat Josep Borrell, who has facilitated de-escalation efforts for the last few months, appreciated the move to halt the survey, calling it a step in the right direction. However, Cavusoglu said that the Oruc Reis was at the port for restocking supplies and maintenance, noting that it did not represent a step back by Ankara.
